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Churchill Economic Development Authority has applied for a $203,944 grant from the Nevada Economic Development Fund.
The grant is to cover the cost of a feasibility, demand and branding analysis for a USDA abattoir in Churchill County. An abattoir is another name for a slaughterhouse.
"The demand is rapidly growing for grass-fed/grass-finished beef products because of consumers questioning how their food is grown," said Juliette Taylor, executive director for CEDA. "This is exploding into a multi-million dollar market."
Churchill County is an agricultural market, and to have an abattoir is favorable for growth in the county, she said.
The demand has shown an increase in the tourism and restaurant industry, with a focus on quality and variety on the menus, according to Eating Smart/Time Magazine, June 2006.
"Based on increased consumer demand these four and five-star restaurants and hotels will pay premium prices for that kind of quality," said Taylor.
The idea of a full service slaughterhouse is is something that has been discussed in the past, said Gwen Washburn, Churchill County commission chairperson. CEDA has taken on that project and has the support of the commission.
"I think if we can make this work it will be an asset to the entire western Nevada region," said Washburn. "This will allow beef producers to get a better price for their beef and consumers can buy quality beef locally."
There are no USDA certified slaughter and processing facilities in Nevada, said Taylor. Previously there were 20 USDA certified abattoirs in northern California, now there are three.
"The only USDA inspected abattoir in the Bay Area, Ranch Feeding Corp., in Petaluma is slated to close within the next few years," said Bruce Cole, food columnist for Slaughterhouse High, in an article dated April 2006.
Nevada ranchers own 500,000 head of cattle, said Taylor. The study will determine which of those cattle are dairy cows and which are raised for beef.
Taylor said there are a total of 689 beef slaughterhouses nationwide. However, there are none located in Nevada and this shows a regional need.
"There is a huge demand for grass-fed beef," she said. "This is a crisis, and provided the study agrees, Nevada has the ability to improve the market locally and nationally."
Taylor said the study should take approximately eight months. After the feasibility study is complete, branding and funding studies will be done.
"This project will benefit not only Churchill County, but the entire state of Nevada," said Taylor.
Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com
The grant is to cover the cost of a feasibility, demand and branding analysis for a USDA abattoir in Churchill County. An abattoir is another name for a slaughterhouse.
"The demand is rapidly growing for grass-fed/grass-finished beef products because of consumers questioning how their food is grown," said Juliette Taylor, executive director for CEDA. "This is exploding into a multi-million dollar market."
Churchill County is an agricultural market, and to have an abattoir is favorable for growth in the county, she said.
The demand has shown an increase in the tourism and restaurant industry, with a focus on quality and variety on the menus, according to Eating Smart/Time Magazine, June 2006.
"Based on increased consumer demand these four and five-star restaurants and hotels will pay premium prices for that kind of quality," said Taylor.
The idea of a full service slaughterhouse is is something that has been discussed in the past, said Gwen Washburn, Churchill County commission chairperson. CEDA has taken on that project and has the support of the commission.
"I think if we can make this work it will be an asset to the entire western Nevada region," said Washburn. "This will allow beef producers to get a better price for their beef and consumers can buy quality beef locally."
There are no USDA certified slaughter and processing facilities in Nevada, said Taylor. Previously there were 20 USDA certified abattoirs in northern California, now there are three.
"The only USDA inspected abattoir in the Bay Area, Ranch Feeding Corp., in Petaluma is slated to close within the next few years," said Bruce Cole, food columnist for Slaughterhouse High, in an article dated April 2006.
Nevada ranchers own 500,000 head of cattle, said Taylor. The study will determine which of those cattle are dairy cows and which are raised for beef.
Taylor said there are a total of 689 beef slaughterhouses nationwide. However, there are none located in Nevada and this shows a regional need.
"There is a huge demand for grass-fed beef," she said. "This is a crisis, and provided the study agrees, Nevada has the ability to improve the market locally and nationally."
Taylor said the study should take approximately eight months. After the feasibility study is complete, branding and funding studies will be done.
"This project will benefit not only Churchill County, but the entire state of Nevada," said Taylor.
Viktoria Pearson can be contacted at vpearson@lahontanvalleynews.com
