Glynwood has just announced the launch of the first USDA inspected mobile slaughterhouse for large animals east of New Mexico.  The Modular Harvest System™ (MHS) addresses a critical gap in the infrastructure needed by livestock producers in the Hudson Valley, a region with many dispersed smaller farms near a major metropolitan market, and provides a model for other similar regions.

Cattle and sheep grazing in the Hudson Valley.

The need for additional slaughtering capacity had been recognized – and studied – for several years.   In late 2008, Glynwood created a task force to address this need.  (To hear the need described by farmers, chefs and others, please take a look at a video we produced early in this project.)

Having the MHS, a “next generation” modular mobile unit, in operation on its first docking site in Delaware County about 18 months later represents a major accomplishment, achieved with the support, assistance and encouragement of the members of the task force and a great many other people from across the Valley.

But why did Glynwood think it was so important to grasp the nettle on this issue — and believe me, that nettle had some very sharp points along the way!