HERKIMER CO., N.Y. — Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency (HCIDA) and Herkimer Meat Packing LLC are seeking expressions of interest from dairy and beef producers interested in processing their cattle at the new large facility, which will begin construction in 2023.
The USDA-certified harvest facility is set to be the largest in New York State and New England at 195,000 ft2 and will average 3,500 in processing per week at full capacity. Herkimer Meat Packing LLC hopes to achieve LEED certification with an environmentally friendly and efficient design. The facility will take an estimated two years to build and is currently scheduled to open in late 2024.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Herkimer County with terrific growth potential for our community,” said John J. Piseck, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Herkimer County IDA. “New York cattle are spending hours in transport being driven to out-of-state harvest facilities, and producers are tired of the capacity challenges those facilities present, including difficult scheduling limitations,” Piseck continued. “This new meat processing facility will not only take both beef and dairy cattle, it will decrease shipping costs and increase convenience while creating more jobs in our community. It will help keep agriculture profitable and make New York beef more accessible to New Yorkers and help to prevent disruptions in the food supply chain.”
Herkimer Meat Packing LLC will process upwards of 750 cattle per day once fully operational. The facility will offer nose-to-tail processing, utilizing all aspects of the animal.
“There are currently no larger scale processors in New York State that even approach the size and scope of this project,” says Martin J. Broccoli, Agriculture Economic Development Program Director for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. Broccoli is optimistic about the economic opportunities for local industry.
“Currently, it is estimated that 90% of the culled dairy cows and beef animals produced in New York are being processed in Pennsylvania. This facility will allow producers to serve larger markets looking for New York State-produced meat proteins,” Broccoli stated.
Herkimer County IDA and Herkimer Meat Packing LLC have put a call out to northeastern producers, seeking those who may be interested in the shorter haul and large capacity of processing at the facility. To learn more, producers are asked to share their herd size and contact information at https://www.herkimercountyida.
Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency delivers economic incentives to businesses and industries to diversify and strengthen Herkimer County’s tax base and enhance community vitality by supporting job creation, business and industrial development, and community revitalization. They strive to develop the local economy in an organized, sustainable and environmentally beneficial manner. Learn more at www.herkimercountyida.org.
–Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency