Beef Processed in Minnesota Wears 'Kentucky Proud' Label

by Hanna Raskin, Posted Feb 10th 2010 @ 4:00PM

Some local food advocates in Kentucky are questioning a new Department of Agriculture program that will slap "Kentucky Proud" labels on beef processed in the upper Midwest.

A Business Lexington columnist reported there was an "outcry" from readers after learning of the state's plans to partner with Minnesota's PM Beef to overcome economy of scale issues that have prevented beef from becoming a major component of Kentucky's nine-year-old homegrown foods initiative. The situation's familiar to many cattle-farming southern states: Consolidation in the meatpacking industry has left Kentucky without the processing facilities it needs to keep its citizens supplied with affordable red meat.

"If we assume everyone in Kentucky eats an average of 80 pounds a year, with the processing capacity we have in Kentucky, we can provide only four percent of that consumption," Kentucky Department of Agriculture spokesman Bill Clary explains.

Under the new program, Clary says, PM Beef will purchase certified Kentucky-raised Angus cattle through Kentucky markets.

"This beef will come back to Kentucky," Clary says. "And the calves are staying in the state much longer than they usually do, so more economic value of the cattle is being captured here in the state."

Clary's especially excited about distribution opportunities created by the new program: Trucks moving beef around the state will also be loaded with Kentucky Proud vegetables, milk and other foodstuffs. In the past, Clary says, "There's been an inability to get our products to every corner of the commonwealth."

Still he says he understands the motivation behind calls for a line of Kentucky Damn Proud products that are grown, harvested, processed and packaged in state.

"In a perfect situation, everything would be done in state, and perhaps down the pike, that will be possible," he says. "This is a first step. Hopefully we'll get to the point where everything a Kentuckian consumes will be produced here."

Filed Under: Farming, Business, Food News, Food Politics
Tags: agriculture, beef, featured, kentucky, kentucky proud, meat

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 3)

2-10-2010 @4:50PM Daniel Myers said... Incredibly stupid. The whole point of the local food movement is not to have one's food be trucked in from across the country. These morons think it's just fine to truck the cattle hundreds of miles, have them processed there (presumably along with other cattle), and have them trucked back again. Aside from potentially breaking the chain of accountability, it's an huge waste of energy. Why don't they just invest in adding small beef processing plants throughout Kentucky?

They've just proven that the "Kentucky Proud" label is simply a marketing gimmick, and has no real meaning.
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2-11-2010 @4:36PM lk said... Speaking as a consumer from the South Western part of the USA. I like the idea of the label. Matter of fact I wish more labels were put on meat packing products to show where the meat originates from. Why? I want to know if the meat is from the USA or imported meat from Mexico, China, Argentina, Brazil or elsewhere so I as a consumer can make my choice. I don't buy any type of meat, fish or poultry imported from China, reason extreme pollution. I've used meat products from other countries but the main problem is quality control and health safety reasons. If I know that the products from a specific country uses similar health & safety checks for quality control then I'll buy it. In the end I prefer buying American products because its supports our country industry.

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2-11-2010 @6:41PM Lisa said... YUK. I NEVER TOUCH THE STUFF.

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2-11-2010 @7:23PM Ron said... I just purchased a piece of meet from a local butcher and spoke of this very thing. He gave me a brochure after the fact . The Kentucky Proud brochure glosses over any real issues, in hindsight it seems deceptive at best. Our stockyards and slaughterhouses have been shut down due to suburban expansion and expensive real estate. Thought I had found a local source, was wrong.
Will have to go back to our locally harvested bison.

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2-12-2010 @8:13AM Steven Ruza said... Agree with you Daniel. - Steven Ruza
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2-11-2010 @10:44PM doug said... Makes as much sence as watching Florida Oranges going to California and California Oranges coming to Florida.
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2-11-2010 @4:40PM Yoohoo1046 said... Must we outsource EVERYTHING??? What happened to home grown America??? Common sense is not running rampant in the good ole' U.S.A.
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2-11-2010 @6:40PM DAN said... common sense is being bred out.

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2-11-2010 @4:42PM rjfother1 said... ALL THE MEAT PACKING AN PROCESSING PLANTS IN THE SOUTH GOT RAIDED BY IMMIGRATION, SO THE PLANTS HAVE TO SHUT DOWN AN FIND SOME ONE WHO WILL DO YTHE WORK CHEAP= LIKE A NON-UNION PLANT! ALSO LOOK AT YOUR LABLES MOST STATE NOW= PRODUCT OF MEXICO OR CANADA! WE ARE BECOMING AN IMPORTER NATION , NOT A PRODUCTION NATION!
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2-11-2010 @7:43PM Mike said... Kentucky, and most of the southern states, have been very sucessful breaking the unions- especially the meat cutters. You reap what you sow.

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2-11-2010 @11:04PM h said... Local market store in Plainview Long Island, New York was selling chop meat with a "beef imported from Canada" label.

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2-11-2010 @4:45PM Pastor Dan said... All I know is that steak photo looks mighty appetizing this time of the afternoon. What's for dinner?
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2-11-2010 @6:49PM Wendy said... Yes it does!!!

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2-11-2010 @5:04PM Heartslord said... To take the eco-side of this a step further. It's now clear that one may be a vegetarian and be quite healthy. I understand if you wish to eat meat though hopefully we will soon stop slaughtering other sentient species for food. This will save endless amounts of water and eliminate almost half of gases (methane is a big one) supposedly responsible for climate change and disease associated with animal consumption. We're told it takes 9 lbs of grain to produce one lb of meat. We could feed the world, a goal most wouldn't seriously believe possible at this point.
I' ve been vegetarian for 32 yeras and I'm way healthy. It could work for you too. Either way, thanks for listening.
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2-11-2010 @11:58PM PR said... I do not have a problem with you being a vege... The problem as I see it is that you come online and make comments that are untrue or exaggeration of reality. We do not live in the garden of Eden, almost all animals are raised in a humane environment, vaccinated, fed healthy diets and provide an excellent food product. Your 9:1 rate of gain is from the 1800's. Today's efficient animal genetics and feeds are closer to a 3 or 4:1 rate of gain. Ok animals flatulate, but try googling "peat bogs". Why don't you do your homework and realize that peat bogs disseminate more methane than the animal population. Again you haven't done your homework, when was the last time or grain stocks in this country were depleted? We constantly have an abundance of grain, so quit blaming animal agriculture because some foreign government will not work with the worlds distribution systems for feeding people.

I have consumed meat for over 45 years and "way healthy" also. So get off of your high horse and eat what you want, just dont spread false information to support your way of life.

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2-11-2010 @6:47PM Wendy said... If everyone became vegies, then we would be trampled with animals!! They need to be killed & they are yummy to eat!!!! I've been a meat eater all my 40 years of life & I'm healthy!! My Granddaddy lived to be 88...he was a meat eater all his life. My Grandma is almost 90 & she eats meat & has her whole life!!

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2-11-2010 @6:46PM Lisa said... I am a veg. and have been for 13 years. I am extremely healthy. I haven't had as much as a runny nose in 3 years. I have plenty of muscle tone ( getting my protein from other sources) and my skin is beautiful! I don't miss meat at all.
However, I don't have a problem with other people eating meat. I have a problem with how the animal is treated'. May seem crazy to many but I happen to care about their pain. I think God would want us to care.

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2-11-2010 @5:04PM PR said... Really what difference does it make. The retail seller should be able to give directive to whatever labeling they want on a package of meat. At least the animal is raised in the USA, fed USA feeds & grain and processed in the USA. That is a far cry better than everything else that we are purchasing from oversees. Nobody seems to give a rip about Wal Mart or Target or any other large chain store and where those products originate.
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