Hess Meat Market Inc.

Hess Meat Market Inc. operates at 605 N. Mesquite in Muenster, Cooke County, Texas, under FSIS establishment numbers M47095 and P47095. The federal record lists meat slaughter and meat processing activities, a small size class, and a grant of inspection date on file of February 18, 2022. Species slaughtered under inspection are reported as cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The plant reports a slaughter volume category of 1, meaning under 1,000 head per year, and also reports custom-exempt slaughter, where animals owned by the customer are processed and returned in packages marked Not for Sale, along with retail-exempt sales.

The establishment website describes itself as a specialty meat processing shop and states that the shop runs a single line, so that the entire processing department is focused on one customer's product at a time. The site states that intake is limited so cuts can be made and packaged as the customer requests, and that every cut is double wrapped by hand. A notice posted on the site says that as of April 1, 2021, Hess Meat Market no longer offers vacuum pack services for any custom processing, and that the shop was accepting wild game for the 2021-2022 season.

According to the website's about page, Stanley and Tonya Hess sold their ownership in Fischers Meat Market in March 2010 in order to own their own meat company outright. In April 2012, the Hess family changed the name of H&W Meat Co. to Hess Meat Market, Inc., and renovated and added on to the facility. Hours, current pricing, and other operational details beyond what is quoted here are not on file.

Slaughter days are Tuesday and Thursday, as listed on the website's custom processing page, which also states that a $18 per animal disposal fee should be added to the order and that prices are subject to change. A cutting form is available for download from the site's order forms page. The shop states that it runs only one line and limits how many animals it takes in so cuts can be made to the customer's specification, and that every cut is double wrapped by hand. Vacuum packaging is not available for custom processing as of April 1, 2021, per the site notice. The federal record shows inspected slaughter of cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb, a small size class, and under 1,000 head per year, along with custom-exempt slaughter. Booking procedures, lead times, and full price detail are not stated in the sources.

Hess Meat Market Inc. 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 that Hess Meat Market sells Hess Meat raised beef and pork in halves, wholes, or quarters, backed by what the site describes as a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. The site says these are fed out animals rather than feed lot raised, that they are antibiotic and hormone free, and that animals grading below choice are ground into hamburger. The federal record shows the establishment reports retail-exempt sales. Retail counter hours, online ordering, delivery, and shipping are not stated in the sources.

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.