Using Market Maker to Connect Virginia Meat Producers and Processors

To meet the needs of farmers and processors, the authors investigated a national online database called Market Maker (foodmarketmaker.com). The Market Maker website provides the following benefits: Harvest facilities can register their businesses easily, detail their services and prices, and update their information as needed. Harvest facilities can define their business based on categories of certifications, types of animals processed, types of cuts and packaging, pricing options, and contacts and media information. Harvest facilities and producers can securely access their unique Market Maker profile and edit their information at any time. Animal producers may conduct custom searches of the database to pinpoint which slaughtering facilities are available and able to meet their processing requirements.