Puget Sound MeatNovember 2008
South Sound Ranchers, Farmers, Chefs, Butchers & All Supporters of Local Food:
At this time last year, I presented my goal of restoring the local infrastructure for USDA certified meat products to the Pierce County FARM Board. With the FARM Board's encouragement, as well as amazing support from the Pierce Conservation District, the Washington State Small Business Assistance Center and many others, I have seen the dream of “Local Meat for Local Meals” transformed from a lightbulb over my head to becoming the PugetSound Meat Producers Cooperative (PSMPC), a nonprofit, agricultural cooperative incorporated in the State of Washington and endorsed by Washington State University's Small Farms Team, and the six south sound counties (King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pierce and Thurston) to be initially served by the mobile slaughter unit.
Just one year later, the Pierce Conservation District has contracted for the construction of a mobile slaughter trailer and the PSMPC is now selling stock for membership. The purpose of our initial newsletter is to inform you of membership options and to encourage you to join us. Visit our new website, www.psmpc.com to learn more.
As we start 2009 we will be holding our "First Ever" Annual Members Meeting and organizing a PSMPC Board training retreat so that we kick this organization off right.
Make sure you get in at the ground floor and don't miss thechance to be a part of history in the making.
Now is the time for you to join the Local Meat for Local Meals movement.
Cheryl Ouellette, AKA “Cheryl the Pig Lady”
President and Founding Mother
Puget Sound Meat Producers Cooperative