Local farmers are concerned a buyer won’t be found for Thunder Bay Meat Processing.
Now that the Murillo area plant is officially for sale, bison producer Ashley Janssens says if it closes, driving to Dryden isn’t something she wants for her animals.
“Stress on the animals causes stress in the meat, which causes the meat to taste differently. So there’s just so many things to think about, even if the abattoirs would accept us, because they are wild animals, they are a bit harder to control than walking in a cow or a pig.”
The Thunder Bay area farmer adds it’ll cost her more to drive to the Dryden facility.
“It’s not convenient anymore. We’re going to be competing with other farmers for spots. We have bison, it’s not as easy as bringing in a cow or pig, or something like that. They’re a bit more wild, and we would have to discuss with them how we’re going to bring those in.”
The owners of Thunder Bay Meat Processing are looking to retire, but Janssen notes the difficulty in finding a buyer.
“You don’t hear of them knocking down doors for jobs. There just so hard to find, it’s an art form. You have to be in that right frame of mind to be able to do something like what they do. And also, it’s provincially run facility.”
The Thunder Bay woman adds there are so many government rules to follow it’s enough to scare anyone away.
