Mark Trowbridge started his cow calf operation in high school as an FFA project. Since then, he has expanded it to 80 head of registered angus cattle, started raising chickens as well, and is selling the meat from his cattle and chickens.
While new to raising chickens, he realized quickly how crucial it is to know about food safety. “You need to understand the time and temperature. For example, how long you have after you harvest an animal to get it cooled down to temperature to reduce any chances of contamination or bacteria growth,” Mark shared.
He also recognized the limited number of poultry processors who are licensed and can make custom orders. This gave Mark an “I can do that” mindset.
During a Farm Bureau dinner event, an ad played about GreenStone sponsoring the meal, and it talked about the CultivateGrowth grant. As a beginning farmer, Mark saw an opportunity and applied right then and there! He knew he wanted to use the grant to attend Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) training.
HACCP training is a program that equips individuals in the food industry with the knowledge to identify and control food safety hazards throughout the production process. Mark thought it would be a good idea to take the training to get certified and become his own USDA meat processor.
He noted that the training was easy to learn from, and it was “nice to meet people from the Michigan State staff at the product center. They are very valuable people to know if you have questions about processing or anything farm value related.”
The knowledge Mark gained from the HACCP training gives him an extra leg up in the process of becoming his own USDA processing plant. He has recently added a large walk-in freezer on the farm and became licensed throughout the state to sell retail cuts directly to consumers. He is also hoping to be able to ship online orders through his website in the future.
Now that he is HACCP certified, Mark is applying for USDA grants to get certified and start processing at their farm and for other people too. With the CultivateGrowth grant, he is now able to give other people a place they can trust and have as a resource for safe meat products!
GreenStone aims to provide opportunities for all young, beginning, and small farmers and supports their educational and personal growth efforts with our CultivateGrowth grant. To learn more about GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth grant, click here.
