Fiscal Year 2022 Description of Funded Projects

Number of Grants Awarded: 111

Amount of Funds Awarded: $21,894,464

The Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program assists currently operational meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities in obtaining a Federal Grant of Inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA); or to operate as a State-inspected facility that is compliant with FMIA or PPIA under a respective Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program.

The MPIRG focuses on:

• Improving meat and poultry slaughter and processing capacity and efficiency;
• Developing new and expanding existing markets;
• Increasing capacity and better meeting consumer and producer demand;
• Maintaining strong inspection and food safety standards;
• Obtaining a larger commercial presence; and
• Increasing access to slaughter/processing facilities for smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, veteran producers, and/or underserved communities.

Recipient: Rainbow Meadow Farm dba Whiskey Pig Craft Butchery Snow Hill, NC

Award Amount: $200,000

Expanding Meat Processing in Eastern North Carolina Rainbow Meadow Farms, LLC, dba Whiskey Pig Craft Butchery, has been processing meat for over four years. In 2021, the company processed over 120,000 pounds of beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, and rabbits. Almost all of the meat processed is raised on the 10th generation family farm in Eastern North Carolina. Whiskey Pig is expanding its processing facility so that it can become USDA Inspected. This will allow the company to enter new retail and foodservice markets. Whiskey Pig is requesting funds for expenses needed to expand its processing facility and become USDA inspected. Funds will be spent on supplies, equipment, and contractual expenses.

Recipient: Yakub Ahmed Adam Marble, NC

Award Amount: $200,000

Upgrade facility to meet USDA standards The purpose of this project is to modernize Adam Farm's facility to obtain a Federal Grant of Inspection. Their current facility will not pass a USDA inspection without improvements and new equipment. The slaughtering and processing rooms will be upgraded to meet USDA standards. This will include creating an office for USDA Inspectors, filing storage for records and an area for testing.

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