Cooperative was creative solution to keeping meat processing local

In 2023, a local family-owned meat processing facility was slated to close when the owner was ready to retire. This facility had served the Flathead Valley since 1945. Meat processing capacity has been lacking for quite some time. Producers have been forced to haul long distances – which isn’t good for the animals or the bottom line. Some of our local ranchers have been transporting their animals to Havre, and even Hardin, for processing. A facility closure would constrain processing even further, so a group of local producers came together to find a solution. 

This group sought to form a cooperative so that local producers could band together and purchase the facility, protecting local processing capacity and ensuring they had access to the services they needed. Through the massive efforts of this founding group, assistance from the Cooperative Development Center at Mission West Community Development Partners, and a strong response from other local producers, Glacier Processing Cooperative was born in 2023. 

To enable the co-op to buy the facility, they obtained a Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) loan from Montana West Economic Development (MWED). This USDA program was created to help increase meat processing throughout the United States and expand capacity outside of the “Big 4” meat processors. MWED was awarded $15 million to seed a revolving loan fund focused on expanding meat and poultry processing capacity all through the food system. The creation and expansion of the Glacier Processing Co-op gave MWED the opportunity to assist in keeping a necessary business open and operational and to support local producers who were investing in their own futures. This allowed MWED to support multiple levels of our local agricultural economy, from individual family ranchers to value-added agricultural products. 

Since its creation, the Glacier Processing Cooperative has grown to more than 40 members and made several equipment upgrades. The co-op continues to grow, currently undertaking a facility expansion, also enabled by an MPILP loan from MWED. In addition to processing animals for co-op members, the facility is open to the public and processes the 4-H and FFA animals for a number of regional fairs. 

Glacier Processing Cooperative also operates Montana Jerky Company. Started by the previous owner, Montana Jerky Company produces a line of award-winning jerky products that are sold throughout the region and direct to consumers from the company’s website. The co-op continues to produce and innovate these products, distributing them to stores around Montana and the United States. 

Glacier Processing Cooperative is a Flathead Valley success story that we at MWED are proud to be a part of and we look forward to seeing their new expansion take shape. So next time you’re in the market for dinner or a protein-packed snack, think about shopping locally and supporting your neighborhood ranchers. 

Anyone interested in Glacier Processing Co-op can find more information at glacierprocessing.com. 

Christy Cummings Dawson is the president and CEO of Montana West Economic Development.