Specifications include, but are not limited to: Watauga County is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or organizations to manage and operate a new slaughter plant that will be built and owned by the county, to be leased to an operator to manage. The slaughter plant is to be used for slaughter of cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats under USDA inspection, for further processing offsite. The ideal candidate will have experience and expertise in processing meat under USDA inspection, will have been operating in meat processing and production for at least two years prior, and demonstrate capability to produce the following outcomes: ● Ensure county producer access to slaughter/processing ● Have capacity to slaughter/process up to 100 beef equivalent per week ● Familiarity with and compliance to USDA regulatory standards for commercial meat production ● Have equipment and capability to safely handle, transport, and manage raw perishable food product under temperature control
