Wilkes Abattoir, LLC

Wilkes Abattoir, LLC, doing business as Apple Brandy Prime Cuts, operates at 347 Thomas Street in North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina, under establishment numbers M19511 and P19511. FSIS lists the plant for meat processing, meat slaughter, and poultry slaughter, with a grant of inspection dated July 15, 2021. It is classed as Very Small and reports slaughtering cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb under inspection. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and the packages are marked Not for Sale. Its FSIS slaughter volume category is 2.0.

The website describes the operation as a custom, USDA inspected abattoir for farmers and meat handlers in western North Carolina and surrounding areas, providing inspected harvest and processing of livestock for producers processing for their own consumption and for licensed meat handlers who sell their products. Live animals are dropped off at the Thomas Street address, while processed product is picked up at 106 Chestnut Street in North Wilkesboro, which is also the retail location.

The retail side sells Apple Brandy Beef, described as corn fed beef from Hereford and Angus cowherds raised on a fourth generation family farm in the North Carolina foothills, dry aged 14 plus days at the company's own USDA abattoir. The site states the pedigree and complete history, including exact age, of each animal in the beef program is known. Pork under the Apple Brandy label is said to come from Looper Farms in Granite Falls, NC, and lamb from local area farmers.

The website states that Wilkes Abattoir / Apple Brandy Prime Cuts provides inspected harvest and processing of livestock for both producers processing for their own consumption and licensed meat handlers who sell their products. FSIS lists cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb as species slaughtered under inspection, plus poultry slaughter activity and custom-exempt slaughter. Live animal drop off is at 347 Thomas Street, and processed product pick up is at 106 Chestnut Street, with processing pick up hours listed as Monday through Saturday, 8am to 3pm at 2:30pm close. Livestock may be dropped off after hours for harvest the following day; the site instructs producers to identify the animal by its existing ear tag or a glue on back tag available at the drop off spot along with the pen number, to close and secure all gates, and to call (336) 667-1346 and leave a voicemail with name, phone number, and animal tag number. Cut sheets are provided for beef, pork, and lamb or goat, including an online beef cut sheet. Booking lead times, minimums, and fees are not stated in the sources on file.

Wilkes Abattoir, 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.

Retail sales are at 106 Chestnut Street, North Wilkesboro, NC, described as the Wilkes area's only retail market and storefront selling Apple Brandy Beef. The offering listed includes beef dry aged 14 plus days, pork from Looper Farms in Granite Falls, NC, lamb from local area farmers, the company's own jerky and beef sticks, and dry goods such as crackers, pickles, hot sauces, and seasonings with North Carolina connections. Call-ahead ordering is available through the office at (336) 990-9310, or by message on Facebook or Instagram. Weekly specials are mentioned on the website. Halves and quarters, bundles, delivery, and shipping are not mentioned 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.