What We Do
The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) is a national network of people and organizations assisting niche meat processors and the livestock producers and niche meat buyers who depend on them. Small and mid-sized plants—when available at all—can lack capacity, equipment, appropriate inspection status, and the human and financial capital to upgrade or expand. Around the country, people are trying to solve this problem. In the fall of 2007, we started introducing ourselves to each other.

How We Do It
NMPAN works at two levels:

1. We bring together people who work with niche processors, to share resources and ideas and collaborate on issues of national importance.
2. We help processors, producers, buyers and others find help in their state or region.

We network with each other via the web (interactive maps, resource database) and over the phone (teleconferences, direct assistance).

What Are Niche Meats?
Locally raised, certified organic, grass-fed, no hormones or antibiotics, certified humane—we use “niche” very broadly to refer to many types of market differentiation. To best meet the needs of small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers, we only work with small to mid-sized meat processors.

Who We Are

A list of state affiliates, national contacts, coordinators and advisory board members is located at http://www.nichemeatprocessing.org/NMPANpeople.html.

Network Sponsors
The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) is supported by USDA Rural Development, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Heifer International, National eXtension Initiative, USDA CSREES and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development.

Rules and Regulations

Find Help Near You

Niche Meat Processor Case Studies

Business Development

Workforce Management

Plant Design and Construction

Archived Niche Meat Processor Webinars

Information Index

Mobile Slaughter/Processing Units

Find a Meat Processor Near You (pending)

Frequently Asked Questions
(pending)

For more information, contact:

Arion Thiboumery
(415) 260-6890
arion[at]iastate.edu

F

Lauren Gwin
(510) 388-4720
lauren.gwin[at]oregonstate.edu