Find a local farmer or processor for fresher, healthier and tastier meat for your family. Know where your food sources are coming from and support the farming practices that promote your health and sustainability. Search and filter our directory to find and support local farms and processors that match your values for preferred farm practices, feeding methods, or animal welfare.
In North Dakota, meat processors generally fall into three main categories based on their inspection and regulatory status: federally inspected, state inspected, and custom exempt. These distinctions determine what the processors can do with the meat (e.g., sell interstate, sell intrastate, or process for personal use only). Regulations ensure food safety, humane handling, and proper labeling, with state standards required to be "at least equal to" federal ones. Below is a summary of each type, including their key features and regulatory oversight. North Dakota participates in the USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, allowing eligible small state-inspected establishments to ship products interstate if they meet additional federal criteria.
These facilities are inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). They undergo rigorous daily inspections during operations to verify compliance with federal standards for slaughter, processing, sanitation, and humane handling. Products from these processors receive a USDA inspection mark and can be sold and shipped across state lines (interstate commerce), including to other states or through mail order. This is suitable for operations targeting national markets. North Dakota facilities seeking federal inspection apply directly to USDA FSIS, as the state program focuses on intrastate activities.
Operated under the North Dakota State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP), these facilities (often referred to as official slaughtering or official processing establishments) are licensed and inspected by the NDDA. Inspections occur regularly (often daily for slaughter operations) to ensure standards match or exceed federal requirements, including sanitation protocols and humane handling. Products bear a North Dakota-specific inspection mark and can be sold wholesale or retail within North Dakota only (intrastate), such as to grocery stores, restaurants, or directly to consumers. However, North Dakota participates in the USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, allowing eligible small state-inspected establishments to ship products interstate if they meet additional federal criteria. This supports local businesses while enabling limited out-of-state sales for qualifying processors.
These facilities process meat exclusively for the animal owner's personal or household use (including non-paying guests and employees), not for commercial sale. They require approval from the NDDA but are exempt from routine inspections for wholesomeness (though sanitation inspections still occur, usually quarterly, and facilities must comply with basic standards like sanitary conditions and suitable equipment). Products are marked "Not for Sale" and returned to the owner; selling them is illegal. This is common for farmers, hunters, or individuals processing their own livestock, including shared ownership scenarios with proper documentation.
For starting or operating a facility, consult the NDDA Livestock Industries - Meat Inspection for specific applications, including label approvals and site visits. A list of processors is available on the NDDA website. Note that poultry is also covered under the state program, and wild game processing may have additional exemptions if not mixed with commercial meat.
