Northeast Kingdom Processing LLC

Northeast Kingdom Processing LLC operates at 796 Industrial Parkway in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont, under establishment numbers M46706, P46706 and V46706. The federal record lists meat and poultry slaughter and processing, meat and poultry identification, and voluntary meat slaughter and processing, with a grant of inspection date on file of August 2, 2021. FSIS classifies the plant as very small, and the reported slaughter volume category is under 1,000 head per year. Species reported slaughtered under inspection 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 retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes a USDA certified facility that serves local meat producers and retail customers, and states it is certified for organic slaughter and processing as well as Animal Welfare Approved. The site describes itself as located in the Northeast Kingdom, referring to Lyndonville, Vermont, while the mailing address given on the site and in the federal record is 796 Industrial Pkwy, Saint Johnsbury. Search snippets name Scott and Tara Oeschger as owner and operator. The website says featured meat in the storefront comes from the owners' own farm, Spring Hill Angus, and that the business partners with Green Mountain Farm Direct, a food hub that moves product to institutional and retail markets in Vermont.

Beyond slaughter and cut-and-wrap, the plant operates a smokehouse and makes sausage in house. Published fee sheets cover slaughter and rendering, processing by hanging weight under custom, commercial and farmer's brand labels, smoking, links, patties, boxing, storage, shipping and condemned animal charges. Cut sheets for beef, pork, and lamb and goat are posted as PDFs. All services described here are as listed on the website and in the federal record.

The website states producers should drop cut sheets off with the animal or email them in, and that a cut sheet is required at drop off or a $25 fee applies. At scheduling, the plant asks for the type, age and size of animal, whether the job is custom or commercial, labeling requests, patties or links, and smoking. Posted fees include beef slaughter $115 plus $35 rendering, lamb, sheep or goat slaughter $65 plus $25 rendering, and hog slaughter from $80 to $110 plus $25 rendering depending on weight. Beef and pork processing by hanging weight is listed at $1.15 per lb custom (labeled Not for Sale), $1.20 per lb commercial USDA inspected, and $1.25 per lb for a farmer's brand label with the farm name. Lamb, sheep and goat processing is listed at $70 flat under 60 lb custom and $1.25 per lb over 60 lb, with higher rates for USDA inspected and farmer's brand. Smoking runs $2.50 to $3.00 per lb depending on in-house or out-of-house and custom or commercial. Cancellations require 14 days notice, or 21 days for more than six animals, and late cancellations are charged the slaughter and rendering fee. Bookings of more than six animals require a credit card on file. Product must be picked up within three business days of notice or storage fees apply. The site notes take out by whole or halves is no longer available at this time due to processing demand, and that the plant may refuse an animal that is too large or too small at drop off. Offal items requested on a cut sheet are not guaranteed and must pass USDA inspection. Pickup is by appointment at the loading dock, 10 to 11 a.m. or 2 to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Northeast Kingdom Processing 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 storefront is open for retail sales and for processing pickups and payments, as listed. The website says customers can order a customized meat box of favorite cuts, come in and select cuts, or call an order in for pickup. An online store lists individual beef, pork, lamb and lamb hide items by the pound, including ground beef at $6.50 per lb, ground lamb at $15.00 per lb, patties, steaks, roasts, offal and bones, plus chicken breast and legs and $50 gift cards. Featured meat in the store comes from the owners' farm, Spring Hill Angus. A $200 shipping fee including pallet is listed on the fee page. Halves and quarters for household buyers are not described.

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.