“Ohio’s meat and poultry processors are a critical component of Ohio’s food and agriculture industry,” Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dorothy Pelanda said in a statement. State leaders said this grant will help meat processors ramp up productivity with the hopes that they can increase supply and lower costs for consumers. “They always get passed on to the consumer, cause you gotta still make your same profit margins or you ain’t going to be here.” “Instead of having $7, $6 sandwiches, you're seeing $10 sandwiches,” Minter said. He said everything is getting more expensive, but he’s not worried for now. This includes packing boxes costing $0.65 when it used to be $0.39 or added fees upwards of $300 on freight charges due to rising diesel prices. He added he’s had to raise prices since supplies cost more. The survey, which was released last month, shows consumers are still buying more at-home food and buying more from farmers markets and specialty shops.īut Minter said, high demand and ongoing disrupted supply chains comes with added pressure to keep up with clients.

That aligns with findings of a survey released by the Local and Regional Food Systems Response to Covid - a project led by the USDA along with several research universities and partners. “People are having trouble finding products and I've had to outsource to different companies to get the products, because with the supply issues you have to buy more.” “The stores are still not able to fill the shelves,” Minter said. But since the pandemic hit, he’s been selling more retail meat.

Minter said he typically wholesales meat to local restaurants or food trucks. He plans to buy a new meat smoker and freezer coolers. He’s one of dozens across the state who received a grant this month. Mike DeWine’s (R-OH) office recently set aside $15 million in grants to strengthen local meat supply chains – the second time it’s made that money available after the need for grants far exceeded the initial funding amount.ĭoug Minter operates Fink Meat Company in Springfield, his company produces chuck roast, pork loins, smoked meats and lunch meats. In January, the Ohio Department of Development - in partnership with the Ohio Department of Agriculture - processed and released the first round of $10 million in grants for meat processors in the state.īut with continuing supply chain challenges, Gov. It pays for projects to expand capacity, upgrade equipment or cover training costs. The Ohio meat processing grant program was carved out of the state budget last summer to help reduce local supply chain disruptions. Local food supply chains remain strained due to the pandemic, and meat processors in Ohio continue to see high demand.

Fink meats