Maple Ridge Meats LLC

Maple Ridge Meats LLC operates at 464 Stage Road in Benson, Vermont, in Rutland County, under FSIS establishment numbers M31561, P31561, and V31561. The federal record lists meat slaughter, meat processing, poultry processing, and voluntary meat slaughter and processing activities, with a grant of inspection date on file of October 4, 2021. FSIS classifies the plant as Very Small. Species reported slaughtered under inspection are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb, and the plant's FSIS slaughter volume category is 2.0. The record also lists the doing-business-as names Over The Hill Farm and The Meat Shop.

The company's website describes the operation as an organic farmers' meat processing facility that has provided processing services since 2001, upholding Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) standards for animal care and handling and holding certified organic processor status through Vermont Organic Farmers. The site states the team specializes in beef, pork, lamb, sheep, and goats, and offers slaughter-only service as well as full processing that includes custom cutting, trimming, vacuum-sealed and labeled packaging, sausage making, and smoking. Note that the FSIS species list on file covers cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb; goats appear only on the website.

The plant reports both custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and retail-exempt sales to FSIS. The website is oriented toward farms and producers and does not describe a retail counter, store hours, or shipping. Most website pages give the address as Benson, Vermont, while the cut sheet sections list 464 Stage Rd, Fair Haven, VT 05743. Details beyond the federal record and the website text above are not yet on file.

The website addresses farms and producers directly and lists posted pricing. For beef, slaughter-only service is $135.00 per animal plus a $45.00 rendering fee; full processing is a $150.00 kill fee plus a $90.00 rendering fee, with cut and wrap at $1.25 per pound. Beef patties are $1.15 per pound, beef sausage links $2.50 per pound, bulk beef sausage $2.00 per pound, Teeny Tiny sausage links $3.00 per pound, and Teeny Tiny sausage bags $2.50 per pound. For pork, slaughter-only is $125.00 per animal plus $35.00 rendering; full processing is $135.00 plus $62.50 rendering, with cut and wrap at $1.25 per pound, sausage at $2.00 to $3.00 per pound depending on style, and a smoking fee of $2.85 per pound. For lamb and sheep, kill and rendering is $50.00 per animal, and kill, cut and wrap is $160.00 per animal, with the same sausage options. All pricing is noted as subject to change. Booking is by phone at (802) 855-3351 or through the website contact form, which asks for farm or business name, service needed (slaughter only, full processing, or unsure), and a preferred processing date. Printable cut sheets can be downloaded and dropped off at the plant. The site states processing follows Animal Welfare Approved standards and that the facility is a certified organic meat processor through Vermont Organic Farmers. Minimum head counts, deposits, and lead times are not stated in the sources.

Maple Ridge Meats 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.

The plant reports retail-exempt sales to FSIS, and its pork page notes options to meet a family's or a farm's needs, but the website does not describe a retail counter, store hours, halves or quarters, bundles, online ordering, delivery, or shipping. One third-party directory lists the business as a source of bulk beef in Benson and advises contacting the business directly for availability and pricing. Households wanting to buy meat should call (802) 855-3351, since nothing further is 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.