Glacier Processing Cooperative

Glacier Processing Cooperative operates at 180 Trap Rd. in Columbia Falls, Flathead County, Montana, under FSIS establishment numbers M7718, P7718 and V7718. The federal record lists meat processing, meat slaughter, poultry processing and voluntary meat slaughter, with a grant of inspection date on file of 2011-05-03 and a Very Small size class. Species slaughtered under inspection as reported to FSIS are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb, with a slaughter volume category of 1.0, meaning under 1,000 head per year. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packages are marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales. The establishment does business as Montana Jerky Co.

The cooperative describes itself as a producer-owned cooperative whose purpose is to serve its members' livestock processing needs, serving small family farms and ranches in Northwest Montana. Its website states the plant is USDA inspected and a Certified Organic Handler, and lists processing for beef, pork, lamb, goat, buffalo and wild game. Services named are slaughter and butcher services, value-added products including sausage, bacon, cured meats and suet, packaging and labeling, and bulk and direct-to-consumer products. A site news post dated April 12, 2025 states the plant became federally inspected and had completed one year of business as GPC; the FSIS grant date on file is 2011-05-03, and customer comments on the site refer to the operation as formerly Vandevanter Meats. The cooperative states it is working to diversify its value-added product line and plans to double its production capacity.

Retail is handled through an on-site store and an online shop. Beef cuts, sausage, beef stix, soup bones, dog bones and branded apparel are listed as pickup only, while Montana Jerky Co. jerky is listed as available for shipping nationwide.

The cooperative is producer-owned and states its purpose is serving members' livestock processing needs. Beef and pork processing are offered generally, while processing for lamb, goat and wild game is stated to be available exclusively for co-op members. Posted member pricing is a beef kill fee of $150 per head and processing at $1.10 per pound, and a pork kill fee of $90 per head with processing at $1.10 per pound. Non-member pricing is the same kill fees with processing at $1.25 per pound. Optional curing is $1.50 per pound. Beef and pork cut sheets are submitted online, and other species cut sheet details are handled by contacting the processing team. Drop-off dates are scheduled through the site, and the site states scheduling for the first half of 2026 begins July 2025. FSIS lists the plant as Very Small with slaughter under 1,000 head per year, and it reports custom-exempt slaughter with packages marked Not for Sale. Minimums beyond the listed fees are not stated.

Glacier Processing Cooperative 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.

Household buyers can shop in person at the retail store or order online for pickup, with the site asking for 24 hours for order fulfillment. Listed products include locally raised and grass-fed beef cuts from member farms and ranches, prime ribeye steaks, soup bones, dog bones, salami, thuringer, and several beef stix, all marked pickup only. Montana Jerky Co. jerky, including beef jerky at $21.00, a variety pack at $100.00 and buffalo jerky at $20.49, is listed as available for shipping nationwide. Sausage and jerky products are vacuum packaged, and the sausage is stated to be made with 25% lean pork trim. Halves and quarters are not described on the site.

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.