Stone Mountain Meats

Stone Mountain Meats operates under USDA establishment numbers M928 and V928 at 8989 Horton Highway, Greeneville, Tennessee, in Greene County. FSIS lists the plant for meat slaughter, meat processing, and identification of meat and poultry, with a grant of inspection date on file of May 5, 2023. It is classified as very small, with a reported slaughter volume category of under 1,000 head per year. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes a family-owned butcher house at the base of Stone Mountain, co-owned by father and son Jeff Fillers and Timothy Fillers, who are described as engineers turned butchers. The site states the business was established in 2020 to help meet processing needs in Greene County. Address language on the site varies, describing the facility as being in Greeneville, TN and also in Baileyton, TN; the FSIS record lists the Horton Highway address in Greeneville. The site notes the operation was listed in the Tennessee Department of Agriculture roster of licensed custom slaughter operations in 2021 and says it was voted the Greeneville Sun 2023 best meats and butcher shop, and that it served 391 customers in the twelve months before January 2024.

Two lines of work are described: processing animals brought in by farmers, businesses, and individuals, and retail sales of meat from livestock the owners raise themselves. Hours are not stated in the sources on file.

The website invites farmers, businesses, and individuals to email or call to get on the schedule, then bring live animals from their farm or purchased from a farmer on the assigned date and return later to pick up packaged cuts. Customers fill out a beef, pork, or lamb cut sheet, downloadable from the site. Two options are offered: custom processing for personal use, returned marked for the owner, and USDA-inspected processing that includes inspection and labeling so the meat can be sold at markets or to restaurants. Pricing listed as effective January 1, 2024 is a custom kill fee of $70 with processing at $0.95 per pound, and a USDA kill fee of $80 with processing at $1.05 per pound, for beef, pork, and lamb alike. Grind in 2 lb sleeves is included; 1 lb sleeves add $0.10 per pound, 2 lb vacuum sealed adds $0.25 per pound, and 1 lb vacuum sealed adds $0.35 per pound. A kill and chill add-on is the kill fee plus $25 per day of storage. Minimums and lead times are not stated in the sources on file.

Stone Mountain 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.

Households can buy meat from livestock the owners raise and butcher in house. The website says cuts are vacuum sealed and packaged for pickup, and that buyers can browse the case in the shop, purchase bundles and select cuts through the business's online Square store, or request specific cuts using a form on the website. Halves and quarters, 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.