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GREEN CREEK—The opening of a new community butcher shop, Melvin Hill Meats, promises to be a welcome addition to to the local area for homesteaders and farmers. 

Melvin Hills Meats has recently received its final inspection as a “custom-exempt processor,” allowing it to process cattle, pigs, lambs and goats raised on local farms and homesteads. The shop’s opening has been highly anticipated by many in the community who are excited about the prospect of having a local and skillful meat processor nearby.

The owners, Craig and Abby Taffaro, have a passion for traditionally prepared meats and a family history in the trade. Their aim is not just to capitalize on an opportunity but to serve the community they now call home. 

The couple moved to Polk County from Charlotte to live a more agriculturally-based life for their young and growing family. They wanted to connect with a community they could serve through their work. 

The couple heard about a problem from friends in Polk County that many farmers and homesteaders know well: backlogged and distant meat processors. With their shop built on a community scale, Melvin Hill Meats does not have long waitlists and is well suited to the practices and needs of the Foothills. With so many homesteaders now raising livestock, this is a welcome and needed addition to the local agricultural economy.

“We’re eager to be a rooted part of the Foothills community,” says Craig. “Reviving the tradition of the community butcher is our way of achieving this.”

Polk County’s newest butcher is offering 50% off the dispatch fee for new customers to celebrate the completion of the shop. With a dry fall leading to slow grass growth, rising hay prices, and even higher beef prices, many farmers are glad to be able to have their livestock processed locally and skillfully before winter arrives. 

The owners of Melvin Hill Meats care deeply about sustainable farming methods and have already been part of local farming classes. As homesteaders themselves, they enjoy comparing notes with the Polk County Livestock Association. Melvin Hill Meats is one of the few processors that compost waste from animals instead of using conventional methods of sewage and harsh chemicals. 

You can learn more about Melvin Hill Meats and make an appointment at www.melvinhillmeats.com.