What started out as a fuel cooperative in Dallas quickly grew into a nationally recognized meat and poultry trade organization. In 1957, a group of independent Texas meat packers united to form a fuel cooperative called Texas Independent Meat Packers Association. Their mission: to get better fuel prices for their delivery trucks. As the membership base grew outside the Texas border and after a few name changes, the Southwest Meat Association (SMA) was formed. Today, SMA is home to 300-plus member companies in 37 states across the United States. The motto around SMA headquarters is “Everywhere is southwest of somewhere.”