Locally Raised Livestock Processing and Wholesaling
Serving Northeast Tennessee farmers, consumers, restaurants, and grocery stores with affordable USDA inspected meat.
The Appalachian Producers Co-op is Now Open
Membership supports a stronger regional food system—benefiting farmers, retailers, and consumers alike. Interested in joining? Request an appointment by filling out the interest form below.
A Critical Investment for Our Local Food System
Investing in regional processing infrastructure provides higher, more reliable incomes to local farmers, making it a more attractive career for young farmers.
- Washington Co. Cattle
- 0
- Washington Co. farmers raise over 40,000 cattle annually.
- Processed Locally
- 0%
- All Washington Co. cattle are processed outside of the county, which is money not retained within the county.
- Wait Time (months)
- 0+
- Farmers face lengthy wait times for processing or must drive 100s of miles to facilities with openings.
- Farmer's Share
- $0
- The average amount per retail food dollar for beef producers receive—the rest is mark-up by middlemen.
Investing in local processing infrastructure is a key step toward regional food security.
In the US, 4 companies owning 50 processing plants are responsible for 85% of the processing of beef, pork, and poultry. Recent events have shown these facilities are vulnerable to pandemics, supply chain disruptions, cyberattacks, fires, and natural disasters, limiting supplies and driving up prices for consumers.
Benefits of a Local Co-op
Supporting co-ops like ours help create a more secure and resilient food supply for our community.
Freshness
Highest quality meat without long shipping & storage times.
Affordability
Fewer middlemen = highest quality beef at affordable prices.
Sustainability
Fewer miles traveled from farm to table.
Safety
Reduced risk of contamination & food borne illness.
Request an Appointment
Appalachian Producers Cooperative is officially open and ready to start booking meat processing appointments and accepting applications for membership.
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