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USDA Continues Effort to Assist Small Producers and Processors at Colorado Mobile Slaughter Unit Information Session |
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Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Richard J. McIntire
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2010 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today
announced that it will continue its effort to assist small producers and processors at a red meat mobile slaughter unit information
session on Oct. 7 in Fort Collins, Colo. The goals of this information session are to educate farmers, ranchers and processors on
how to operate mobile slaughter units and meet USDA food safety requirements. The session is being held as part of USDA's
"Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative.
"This information session will educate small producers and processors on establishing mobile slaughter units and how to ensure the safety
of the products so that they can receive the USDA federal mark of inspection," said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza.
Mobile slaughter units are self-contained slaughter facilities that can travel from site to site. Typically, the units provide slaughter
services to regional small producers at conveniently located host farms. FSIS-inspected mobile slaughter units provide a feasible option for
small livestock producers wanting to provide safe, wholesome meat product to local and interstate consumer markets. Livestock for these mobile
units include cattle, hogs, goats and sheep.
The information session will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MDT at Colorado State University's Taylor Conference Center, located at
4482 E. County Road 56 in Fort Collins, Colo. Those seeking to register should go online to:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/.
FSIS officials will highlight how to apply for the federal grant of inspection and discuss inspection issues unique to mobile slaughter units.
The information session will also include presentations from other USDA agencies; representatives of the Colorado and Wyoming Departments of
Agriculture; Taos Economic Development, an operator of a mobile slaughter unit and a review of federal grant and loan options. Mobile slaughter
units from Taos Economic Development and the Nebraska Environmental Action Committee will be available for tours during the session.
FSIS is committed to working with small and very small plants to help them improve their food safety systems. For more information about
assistance that is provided for small and very small plants, contact the Small Plant Help Desk. Inquiries can be made to staff specialists at
the help desk by calling 1-877-FSISHelp (1-877-374-7435) or via e-mail at InfoSource@fsis.usda.gov.
The help desk is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
This announcement comes as part of USDA's "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, which seeks to create new economic
opportunities, to promote local and regional food systems that help keep wealth in rural communities, and to encourage a national conversation
about what we eat and where it comes from in order to benefit producers of all sizes.
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| Follow FSIS on Twitter twitter.com/usdafoodsafety.
Follow FSIS' Spanish Twitter account at twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es. |
Last Modified: September 30, 2010 |
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