Upham business is newest processing plant in North Dakota

1481 Meats in Upham is the newest North Dakota company operating under the State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program.

“1481 Meats has met all requireme­nts for the meat inspection program,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Their business will help provide beef processing for the community.”

Owners Tyler and Kelani Welstad opened their doors for custom exempt processing in September 2023 and their first official day under state inspection was May 24, 2024.

“We started the business because there is a void of meat processors in their area,” Tyler Welstad said. “I’ve always had an interest in meat processing, and we decided that we would take the initiative to serve the ranching community with custom exempt and state inspected slaughter and processing services. We sell retail jerky, sticks and fresh meats.”

The plant is named 1481 Meats because it sits at the junction of Highway 14 and 81^st St. N. in Upham.

Meat processing plants, accredited by the state inspection program, can sell their products wholesale to other retail establishments. Meat and poultry products that have been processed under state inspection can be sold on a wholesale or retail basis anywhere in North Dakota. After operating as an official state establishment for at least three months, plants are eligible to apply for the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, which allows them to ship anywhere in the United States.

North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) meat inspection staff helped the Welstads meet regulatory requirements, including a written Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs).

HACCP is a science-based approach to manufacturing food products. The goal behind the HACCP program is to identify the crucial steps in the manufacturing process and to gain complete control over those places where a danger of microbiological, physical or chemical contamination exists. SSOPs outline the procedures for maintaining overall plant sanitation, including daily cleaning, regularly scheduled maintenance, food handling practices and employee hygiene.

Goehring said 19 North Dakota companies now operate under the State Meat & Poultry Inspection Program, with seven of those approved to operative under the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program. NDDA also inspects 76 custom exempt facilities in the state, which process private game and livestock.