Poultry production by independent farmers is difficult in Georgia because of one huge hurdle – lack of processing options. Pasture raised poultry is a growing niche in the local and sustainable food movement, among both producers and consumers. Despite this market opportunity, no legal processing options exist in the state of Georgia for independent poultry farmers.

In response to the growing need for processing infrastructure, Georgia Organics is releasing a feasibility study that looks at the options of mobile processing units, a fixed-site facility and even adding a poultry line on to an existing red meat abattoir.

What the report found:

• High regulatory barriers for mobile processing units.
• Fixed site facility would meet need better than mobile unit.
• Support for formation of GA Pastured Poultry Growers Association key. 

The analysis includes clarification of the regulatory issues, budgets, designs, an overview of projects currently in the works and a case study of the Foothills Pilot Plant in Marion, NC.

“It is our hope that this incredible amount of information will help set the stage for options. We intend this to be an open-source tool to help inform any and all projects seeking to provide a safe, economically-viable processing option for our state’s independent poultry farmers,” stated Jennifer Owens of Georgia Organics.

The full feasibility study is available here: http://www.georgiaorganics.org/Advocacy/Poultry%20Feasibility%202012.pdf

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