Montana Premium Processing Co-op offering tours Sunday

Montana Premium Processing Co-op will be holding tours of its facility from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, which will provide information on the origins of the organization, its building and how it will operate.

Co-op Chair Paul Neubauer said people will have a chance to look at the whole facility, including its processing and packaging floor, kill floor and corral system.

Neubauer said it's a good opportunity to learn about the co-operative model they use and the potential benefits of the facility to members, non-members and the community.

He said they are still accepting purchases of membership stocks so it is an opportunity for people potentially interested in investing to get a look at the organization and its facility.

The facility can be used by non-members, he said, but members get priority as well as lower kill fees and a lower per-pound rate for processing and packaging.

Neubauer said the facility is capable of producing USDA-inspected meat, but they are also open to producing state-inspected products for personal use as well.

The facility, he said, is located at 230 25th Ave. W. just behind Havre's USDA Service Center off Second Street, and he requested that people taking the tour bring clean shoes, free of mud or excessive dirt.

After the tours, he said, Cottonwood Farmers Union Local 145 will hold their monthly meeting at 2 p.m. at the co-op and people are welcome to attend that as well.