MM Livestock Co

When visiting a Certified Farmers Market consumers need to realize that the only items capable of being certified by county and or state officials are Produce, tree crops, and eggs. I think honey is covered too but I'm not sure, Meats, Bread, popcorn, sauce, salsa etc. are overseen by the health dept. and fall under a different permit than that which covers crops. Every Farmers market manager is supposed to visually inspect every purveyor at the market they are in charge of, happily most do just that. Originally farmers markets only sold produce. Now many things can be found at farmers markets including meat and seafood. We for example have an N-pin number that corresponds with what we raise, both individually and cooperatively. We can't sell anything we don't raise ourselves unless we can verifiably prove a cooperative or partnership alliance. This documentation must be available to officials on request. Additionally everything we sell at markets must bear the stamp of USDA inspection where required since California has no state inspection program for meat production or processing. When visiting a farmers market talk to the farmers and producers. If you don't like the answers you are given, don't buy the product. Learn a little about the rules and your day at the market will be a happy one. Meg

Today my friend and I are going to get the beef shares for our members. We keep our beef flash frozen after dry aging, cutting and wrapping to ensure freshness. And the heath department wants it frozen for the farmers markets as well. We use 3 different commissary locations just to keep everyone happy. Our customers are happy with the flash freezing and it let's us harvest as the animals are ready rather than adhere to an artificial production schedule. Lambs will be ready for pick up the middle of next week, and the chickens are harvested on fridays. I am so grateful for the great group of abbatoirs we work with, both USDA and custom. These folks really know what they are doing and are just as important to the quality of the products we offer as the actual raising of the livestock. Thanks guys! Meg