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Central Washington ranchers pitch local meat-processing plant as part of interim priorities
Summary
Kittitas Custom Cuts founders and Central Washington ranchers told the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee they have invested $1.2 million and plan a USDA-inspected plant to relieve long reservation waits and improve local food-supply transparency.
Owners of Kittitas Custom Cuts and local ranchers asked the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on April 2 to prioritize meat-processing capacity during the legislative interim.
Scott Toland, who identified himself as owner of 3 Boots Ranch in Ellensburg, told committee members that in Washington producers sometimes must make processing reservations 11 months in advance. Toland said he and partners have invested about $1,200,000 over two-and-a-half years to advance a USDA-inspected processing facility and a retail marketplace in Kittitas. Toland said the processing plant will serve Central Washington producers and that some prospective customers as far away as northern Oregon and western Idaho have already contacted them.
Toland described the bottleneck in processing as a structural problem for supply-chain and food-security resilience, noting the consolidation of U.S. beef and pork processing into a handful of large firms. He asked lawmakers to use interim time to come to the region, tour operations and consider policy steps that could encourage local processing investment.
In response to member questions, Toland said the retail marketplace portion is planned on Main Street in Kittitas (near Exit 115 off Interstate 90), with construction of the marketplace anticipated to begin within about 60 days. He estimated the processing plant’s completion in the third-to-fourth quarter of 2026. Toland also said state labeling rules allow foreign meat to be labeled “Product of USA” through 2026, which he said complicates consumer understanding of meat origin.
Mark Strueley, representing the Washington Cattlemen’s Association, and Bonnie Toland, co-owner with Scott, also invited the committee for ranch visits and to see the processing and marketplace plans. Committee members said the requests will be added to the interim-tour list and encouraged engagement across the summer.
Ending: Founders asked the committee to prioritize processing capacity and regional tours during the interim; they will follow up with offers to host members and staff for site visits.
