USDA Meat Processing Facility Certified in Cody
Written by Andrew-Rossi on June 5, 2017
A local business last week gained certification to become the only USDA approved meat processing facility in the state of Wyoming.
Despite the iconic image of cowboys and cattle that Wyoming has traditionally claimed, until this point there has been no USDA approved slaughterhouse and meat processing plant in the state – all Wyoming grown cattle had to be shipped to other states for processing. On June 1st, Wyoming Legacy Meats in Cody obtained federal certification, keeping the entire process of beef production local, from farm to table.
It was not an easy endeavor, according to Wyoming Legacy Meats Compliance Officer Riley Skeen. He says they had quite a bit of work to do to get the facility, which was built in 1977, up to standards of USDA operation. He said the work included remodeling, installing new floors, upgrading coolers and freezers.
Additionally, staff and owners put in long hours preparing for three different USDA reviews over the past several months – all of which, owner Frank Schmidt says, has been done was for the safety of the consumer.
With ranches in Cody and Shell, the Schmidt family’s Double Doc Ranch is the main supplier for Wyoming Legacy Meats; however, the company is negotiating with other local producers to process and sell their meat – including lamb, sheep, and pork – to promote and foster Wyoming production worldwide.
All Wyoming Legacy Meats products are guaranteed all natural with no added hormones or antibiotics. They also can provide options for grass fed and organic.
