09/04/2026
There’s a lot of information out right now about USDA packing plants and I think it’s causing some confusion with the direct to consumer market. For us here in Oregon, we can either take an animal to one of a handful of small USDA processors and sell individual cuts from that animal to restaurants, markets, or individual customers. With an Oregon Dept Of Ag facility we can do the same except we have to stay within the state lines on sales. Then there is custom exempt, which means that you the end user own the animal or a portion of the animal and you can have it processed wherever and however you want because you own that animal. However, these cuts are marked specifically, not for sale because when the animal was dispatched and prepped for the rail, there was no inspector present like there is on a USDA or ODA certified animal. Legally, you are not allowed to purchase this meat, even in quarters because you did not own the animal or a part of the animal before it was processed. Questions? Feel free to message me and I’ll do my best to clarify!