AG Strategy: FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

Key Points

Meat Processing

Through the company-interviews process, significant gaps were identified in the meat processing sector.

Cold Storage

The need exists for additional storage facilities for both finished products and the interim storage of carcasses prior to finishing.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Technical expertise and marketing support are needed for local and regional ventures in the development of the food supply chain.

Co-Packing Facilities

Entrepreneurs lack access to facilities required for producing small batches of new products.

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Action Steps

  • Work with existing processors on the feasibility of expanding current operations.
  • Survey existing companies to determine their interest in expanding.
  • Enlist the support of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Soybean Association, Indiana Meat Packers Association, and Indiana livestock associations to develop strategies for expanding processing and storage solutions.
  • Develop a plan to lobby state legislators and agencies to address shortages in processing facilities and USDA/state inspectors in close proximity to where livestock is raised.
  • Identify key sites in the region that have the utility capacity and redundancy to handle cold storage facilities.
  • Enlist PCRD to complete a search of cold-storage providers that could be targeted for developing facilities on the identified sites.
  • Schedule attendance at trade shows for food/cold storage as an exhibitor and prepare regional marketing materials to be displayed and distributed at these shows.
  • Develop an Entrepreneurial Guidebook identifying the specific ag sectors and raw material available in each county:
    • identify best practices in co-op models, commercial kitchens and co-packers;
    • tour Purdue’s Food Science kitchen and food testing facility to be able to share this resource with potential new or expanded ventures; and
    • prioritize a small co-packer in each county based on the specialty crops grown in each respective county.