Cherry Meat Company

Cherry Meat Company operates a very small USDA-inspected slaughter and processing plant at 2830 Ezell Road in Chapel Hill, Marshall County, Tennessee, under establishment number M40106. The federal record lists both Meat Processing and Meat Slaughter activities, with cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb reported as species slaughtered under inspection. The grant of inspection date on file is July 14, 2021, and the plant's FSIS slaughter volume category is 1.0, meaning under 1,000 head per year. The establishment also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and the packages are marked Not for Sale.

The company's website describes the business as family owned and operated, serving Middle Tennessee, and as a USDA inspected processing facility and whole animal butcher. The site states the business was established in 2012 and emphasizes humane handling standards and customizing processing to fit a customer's market. Named team leaders are Paige Alden, listed as owner and manager, and Patrick McCord, listed as head butcher and manager with over 15 years of experience in USDA and European style processing. Both are described as trained in humane handling procedures by Erica Voodg. The site also mentions bringing in guest butchers and industry leaders for ongoing training, and support for Williamson County 4-H, Future Farmers of America, the Chapel Hill Youth Athletic Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nashville.

Phone numbers differ between sources: the federal record lists (615) 476-1149, while the website lists (931) 364-7924. The website's contact page carries a dated notice, 06/09/20, stating the plant was booked and not accepting appointments at that time; that notice predates the grant of inspection date on file and current booking status is not stated. Hours, prices, retail counter details, and shipping are not on file.

The plant reports both USDA-inspected and custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, with cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb among species slaughtered under inspection, so animals can be processed either for resale under inspection or as custom work for the owner's own use with packages marked Not for Sale. The website states the facility processes livestock for resale or custom processing, can print a family farm's logo on the meats, labels and vacuum seals cuts, and emphasizes humane handling; both named managers are described as trained in humane handling procedures. Slaughter volume is in the FSIS under 1,000 head per year category. Booking procedures, lead times, minimums, and processing fees are not stated in the sources, though the contact form lists Processing Costs as an inquiry topic. A notice dated 06/09/20 on the contact page said the plant was booked and not accepting appointments at that time; current availability is not stated. Farmers should call to confirm.

Cherry Meat Company 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 states the facility offers custom processing for a family's table and that cuts are labeled and vacuum sealed, and it names an award winning breakfast sausage made from a family recipe. The sources do not describe a retail counter, halves or quarters for sale, bundles, online ordering, delivery, or shipping, so households should contact the plant directly to ask what is available.

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.