Mark's Custom Meats

Mark's Custom Meats operates at 4101 Nittany Valley Drive in Howard, Centre County, Pennsylvania, under FSIS establishment numbers M40236 and P40236. The federal record lists meat slaughter, meat processing, and poultry processing activities, with a grant of inspection date on file of August 2, 2021. FSIS classifies the plant as very small, and its reported slaughter volume falls in the lowest category, under 1,000 head per year.

Species slaughtered under federal inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, meaning it processes animals owned by the customer and returns the packages marked Not for Sale. A secondary listing describes the business as processing beef, hog, and lamb, and another describes it as a family-owned butcher shop that processes and sells meat.

The establishment maintains a website with an online shop section, where beef heart, liver, tongue, and tail appear among the items named. A Facebook post referenced in search results notes an anniversary marking 32 years of operation, though the site text on file does not confirm a founding year. Hours, pricing, booking procedures, cut and wrap options, and delivery details are not stated in the material on file, and details beyond the federal record remain limited.

The federal record lists cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb as species slaughtered under inspection, and the plant reports custom-exempt slaughter in which the customer owns the animal and the finished packages are marked Not for Sale. FSIS classifies the establishment as very small, with reported slaughter volume under 1,000 head per year, so scheduling capacity is likely limited. A third-party processor directory describes booking a harvest slot online, but the plant's own site text on file does not state booking procedures, minimums, deposits, kill days, or cut and wrap fees. Farmers should contact the plant at (814) 383-4520 to confirm availability and terms.

Mark's Custom Meats 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 website includes a shop page, and search results name beef heart, liver, tongue, and tail among items listed there. One secondary listing describes the business as a butcher shop that processes and sells meat. Whether the plant maintains a walk-in retail counter, sells halves or quarters, offers bundles, or ships or delivers orders is not stated 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.