The North Okanagan Butcher Hub is now open in Spallumcheen, and this is a big moment for small-scale farming in our region.
For years, small-scale meat producers across the Okanagan have faced the same challenge. Raising livestock is one part of the work. Getting animals processed in a timely, legal, and affordable way is another. Access to processing has been limited, and that bottleneck has made it harder for local farms to bring meat to market.
The North Okanagan Butcher Hub
This new facility is the first of its kind in British Columbia. It was created to support small-scale livestock producers with local cut-and-wrap services, while also connecting with mobile slaughter infrastructure that helps farms move animals through the system safely and legally. It is a practical solution to a long-standing problem, and it has the potential to become a model for other rural communities across the province.
Steve’s Contribution
Fresh Valley Farms is proud to have a real connection to this project.
Steve was the project manager for the Small Scale Meat Producers Association and helped get the project off the ground. This work took years of planning, coordination, advocacy, and persistence. It brought together farmers, government, local leaders, and community partners around one shared goal: building better meat processing capacity for small-scale producers.
The opening event reflected that spirit of collaboration. Matt was there, along with Steve and Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon. The Vernon mayor was also there, along with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth, the Agricultural Land Commission, OKIB, Splatsin, Township of Spallumcheen council members, and local farmers. It was a strong show of support for a project that took real teamwork to bring to life.
Head butcher Matt Kemp
This project also feels personal for Fresh Valley Farms.
Head butcher Matt Kemp is Fresh Valley Farms’ butcher. Matt used to work here on the farm, and now we send all of our red meat to him for processing. That makes the opening of the Butcher Hub feel even more meaningful. It is exciting to see someone with deep roots in our farm story now playing such an important role in a project that supports producers across the region.
Building strong local food systems
The Butcher Hub is about more than one building.
It is about helping small farms stay viable. It is about building stronger local food systems. It is about keeping more value in rural communities. It is about making it easier for farmers to raise quality local meat and get it processed closer to home.
That matters for producers. It matters for rural economies. It matters for food security in British Columbia.
Steve’s Interview with the CBC’s Kimberly Davidson
CBC’s Kimberly Davidson tours the North Okanagan Butcher Hub and shares why this new facility matters for small-scale meat producers in the Okanagan and across British Columbia:
We are proud of Steve’s role in helping this project move forward. We are proud to know Matt as part of this story, too. And we are glad to see so many people and organizations come together to support something that can make a real difference for small-scale farming in B.C.
The North Okanagan Butcher Hub is a major step forward, and we are excited to see what comes next.
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