There are plenty of innovative, highly regarded meat and poultry processors in the country that never get the recognition they deserve, which probably doesn’t come as a surprise to most of the people reading this magazine. The nationally distributed companies with the million-dollar marketing budgets will always be more visible than the regional or local company, but that doesn’t make them better. In many ways, the smaller companies are the ones that can afford to be more innovative and forward-thinking.
The Independent Provisioner was launched with the idea of putting the focus on a side of the industry that is all too often overlooked. As part of that effort, we are proud to present our first ever Indie Awards —three different processors that best exemplify the creativity and spirit found in the industry. This year’s contest recognizes achievements in new products, advances in environmental sustainability, and people who truly made a difference in the industry.