Since the birth of Thundering Hooves we knew we had to have the highest quality product available. Not only in the rich flavor of the meat and in the sustainable methods used to raise the animals, but even in how our livestock were slaughtered, aged, and processed. Our answer to this was to gain complete control over our products "from pasture to plate".
In January 2007 we completed construction of our own USDA on-farm slaughter trailer, or Abattoir (French term for 'slaughterhouse'). The use of our abattoir will allow us to better manage the timing and the quality of our livestock harvesting while achieving a higher level of quality and safety control over the products and services we have to offer.
Right on our farm, livestock are harvested under the watchful eye of a USDA inspector in our self-contained abattoir. Later in the day, the abattoir is driven to our USDA cut & wrap facility in Walla Walla, where the carcasses are unloaded and appropriately aged to enhance flavor and tenderness. The meat is then hand trimmed under USDA inspection. We package our Thundering Hooves retail meat products using a vacuum pack machine, enhancing quality assurance during storage in your freezer, while giving our USDA custom meat customers a choice between plastic shrink wrapping or vacuum packaging.. As one of only a few livestock producers in the Western United States who fully own and control their own USDA processing operation, we are proud to be providing this unique service to the Walla Walla Valley and surrounding areas.
Thundering Hooves Meat Shop continues to be a retail outlet for our own Pasture Finished and sustainably raised meats. Our store hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5:30 pm and Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm. (Read more about our Meat Shop.)
Click here for Meat Shop location map.
There are many families in our area who still raise a small number of livestock for their own use or to sell to their neighbors. We still welcome these customers to take advantage of our processing services. Having USDA certification simply enhances the quality services these customers have come to know and trust.
Click Here to view a list of processing services. Please contact us for our pricing information.
Small livestock producers are in a difficult spot if they want to direct market their own meats. In order to sell directly to the consumer the meat has to be processed under USDA inspection. But too many small producers cannot take their livestock to the large USDA plants because they don't run enough volume to be taken as a customer by the "big boys" and small USDA plants are quite literally "few and far between"!
Because of our history as small meat producers and our experience direct marketing our own meats, we believe we have a unique insight into the processing needs of other small producers like ourselves. Our focus is geared toward giving the small producer the best possible service when it comes to harvesting, aging, cutting, wrapping, and cold storage (fresh or frozen). Furthermore, with our organic processing license coming soon, we will be able to offer the type of processing capabilities that are very unique in this region.
Click Here to view a list of processing services. Please contact us for our pricing information.
We understand that now, more than ever, you need to feel confident about the food you give you to your family. Our goal has always been to offer the safest meat products and services available. With our own Federally approved and inspected facilities you can be confident in the safety protocols we have in place according to USDA regulations. It is safety assurance through to the final cut!
We purchased our processing facility, formerly known as KwikFreez, in December of 2003. Kwik Freez had operated as a freezer locker rental facility and custom meat cutting business in the Eastgate area of Walla Walla for nearly 60 years (Photo at left was taken in 1956). Its owner and chief butcher for the past 25 years, Bill Schmierer, was ready to step out of his management role and focus his attention solely on meat cutting. This fit perfectly with us, since we wanted to manage the business and have Thundering Hooves’ meats processed there, but we had very little experience with butchering. So, Bill sold us the business, agreed to stay on as our remarkable experienced butcher, and we began to cut and wrap Thundering Hooves’ meats at Kwik Freez, along with custom meats for many others in the Walla Walla area.
In September of 2006, after some significant remodeling and fixing up of Kwik Freez, we were granted with USDA inspection to certify our cut & wrap operation. And in January of 2007 we have reached our goal of completing construction on our USDA On-farm Mobile Abattoir. The last piece of this unique puzzle will fit in soon when we are granted our organic certification for processing.
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