On-Farm Poultry Plant Is Big Hit

On-Farm Poultry Plant Is Big Hit LIVESTOCK Poultry Looking for a rural business to start? Rachel and Matt Munsell hit a home run when they decided to open a poultry processing facility near the Munsell family’s dairy farm Munsell’s Poultry Processing LLC was just an idea in December Within 6 months they were open and they’ve been busy ever since “Business has been awesome ” recalls Rachel the day-to-day manager “Our goal was to process about a thousand birds a day We’ve been fully booked from that first day ” The Munsells had the advantage of knowing there was demand for a poultry processor Rachel her parents and several of her 12 employees previously worked at a local poultry processing plant that closed last year “There was a void that needed filling ” said Rachel “People want to buy local or raise their own food Our nearest competitor is 35 miles away ” While demand for the service was there financing for the $175 000 building and equipment could not be found Local businesses and others in the community invested in the enterprise Matt and Rachel purchased four acres of land with an old hay storage building on it from his parents After getting local and state permits they hired a construction company to remodel and update the building The young couple helped nearly every day and had a hand in the entire process State and local permits and approvals went smoothly “You hear horror stories but it was just the opposite ” recalls Rachel “The state was wonderful to work with and the Department of Environmental Quality was awesome Everyone was so helpful ” The plant processes every Wednesday and Thursday and some Saturdays Unlike some plants the Munsells have no minimum They will handle a single bird or a thousand They are set up to handle all types of poultry as well as rabbits Prices start at $3 for a chicken and go up to $7 50 for ducks and geese For another dollar they will cut up the birds Feet neck and giblets can be included at an added cost Processed birds are vacuum-packed to ensure quality Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Munsell’s Poultry Processing 6131 Mason Rd Fowlerville Mich 48836 ph 517 375-9908; rachel@munsellspoultryprocessing com; www munsellspoultryprocessing com

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