Neighbors Meats LLC

Neighbors Meats LLC operates at 202 Ash Ave S in New Richland, Waseca County, Minnesota, under USDA establishment numbers M1880 and P1880. FSIS lists the plant for meat slaughter, meat processing, poultry slaughter, and poultry processing, with a grant of inspection on file dated May 22, 2024. It is classified by FSIS as very small, reports cattle and hogs as the species slaughtered under inspection, and falls in the lowest slaughter volume category, under 1,000 head per year. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The business website describes the New Richland location as a locker with an onsite processing facility handling butchering, hanging, custom cutting, grinding, smoking, sausage making, vacuum packing, labeling, and freezing. The site states that processing is offered for beef, pork, lamb, and goat. Note that FSIS lists only cattle and hogs as species slaughtered under inspection, so lamb and goat work may fall under other arrangements. Buyers should confirm directly with the plant.

According to the website, the meat market at this address opened in 1959 under Gerald Hullopeter, who ran it for 17 years, and was later operated for 18 years by Dean and Barb Morgan as Morgan's Meat Market. Neighbor's Meats was established in 2021 and is owned by Dan and Amber Lewer, described as fourth generation farmers from the New Richland area who raise cattle, hogs, and turkeys. The company's contact page also lists locations in Mankato and Owatonna, Minnesota, which are separate addresses from the federally listed New Richland establishment.

The website states that Neighbor's Meats provides butchering and custom processing for beef, pork, lamb, and goat, and that the New Richland locker is equipped to take an animal from the trailer to the table, including butchering, hanging, custom cutting, grinding, smoking, sausage making, vacuum packing, labeling, and freezing. FSIS lists the establishment for meat and poultry slaughter and processing, with cattle and hogs reported as the species slaughtered under inspection, and places it in the lowest slaughter volume category, under 1,000 head per year. Custom-exempt slaughter is reported, meaning animals owned by the customer can be processed and returned in packages marked Not for Sale. The website asks customers to contact the New Richland shop at 507-465-3888 to schedule processing. Booking lead times, drop-off days, kill fees, cut and wrap rates, and minimums are not stated in the sources on file.

Neighbors Meats LLC reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, which means it can process an animal a customer already owns (a whole, half, or share bought before slaughter) and return it in packages marked Not for Sale. Most small farms have one or two plants they book with, and the plant's calendar decides the delivery date.

The New Richland location sells packaged custom-cut meats off the shelf and offers a variety of bundle packs described as meeting individual or family needs. The website invites customers to call 507-465-3888 to inquire about buying bulk local beef in quarters, halves, and wholes, and pork in halves and wholes. Reviews quoted on the site mention ribeyes, homemade jerky, and baked goods. Online ordering, shipping, and delivery are not described in the sources on file.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.