The Poarch Band of Creek Indians on Thursday announced plans to construct a new state-of-the-art, high-capacity meat processing facility in Atmore.

Since 1992, the tribe has owned and operated Perdido River Farms (PRF) in Escambia County which serves as one of the largest cattle farms in Alabama. As PRF plans to increase production, the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected facility will hold the capacity of processing up to 125 cattle per week.

A release noted that the new meat processing facility will enable the tribe’s operation to harvest and process cattle and hogs in an efficient manner for its customers.

According to Poarch Band of Creek Indians chairwoman and CEO Stephanie Bryan, the tribe had been forced to send its product out-of-state for processing. Bryan asserted that the new Atmore-based facility would reduce the costs associated with processing by keeping the product in-state.

“I am excited about the opportunities this project creates for our region’s farmers and the agriculture industry,” stated Bryan. “Like so many other local meat producers, we have had no other option other than to send the cattle we raised right here at Perdido River Farms out of state for processing.”

She added, “This new facility will provide us and other farmers the opportunity to process locally- raised beef and pork right here in Atmore. Not only will that make bringing a wonderful product to market easier and more cost-effective, it will also give Alabama producers an opportunity to be part of the “farm to table” movement that is so important to both consumers and local agriculture.”

With processing facilities across the Southeast having limited capacity to take on new customers, the tribe advised that its Atmore facility would serve to meet industry demands by holding a larger processing capacity.

The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2023.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL