Invest in Regional Food & Farm Infrastructure

Meat processing is ultimately regulated at the federal level, but there is a great deal that states can do. In 29 states,^[1] the state department of agriculture has the authority to inspect meat processing facilities, rather than requiring inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as in the remaining states. State inspection authority allows for more processing facilities because the state provides the inspectors rather than needing to rely on the often-strapped USDA. Meat processed at state-inspected facilities may be sold within the state, and for states that belong to the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, state-inspected meat may be sold across state lines as well.^[2]

Policymakers can work to expand meat processing in both federal and state inspection states. Those who have state inspection authority can ensure that they are robust and well-funded and can apply to join the CIS. Legislators in federal inspection states can work to grant state inspection authority. Labor can be a major sticking point for developing processing capacity. Some community colleges, high schools, and other institutions are investing in vocational programs to train workers in the skills that a small meat processing plant requires; these programs can benefit from state investment.

To support the interest and economic potential of local food economies, many states have updated their cottage food laws in recent years to allow home cooks and bakers to sell homemade products. Another route to a similar end is public investment in community commercial kitchens that are available for local food producers to make their food products. These are often developed by a nonprofit, with collaboration from local and regional governments and businesses. USDA grants can be a key to getting the facilities built,^[3] but as federal funding is increasingly unreliable, state investment can play a key role.

Food hubs can be another key element of developing and strengthening local food systems. As with commercial kitchens, development of a food hub is not generally driven by a state initiative, but it can be supported and funded by state action. For example, a Georgia state senator was able to direct state funds to a new food hub in a predominantly Black rural Georgia county by working closely with local community members.^[4] There is also an opportunity for states to earmark federal dollars for local food infrastructure.