PALMER, Alaska (KTUU) - Southcentral Alaska’s only USDA-certified meat processing facility – Alaska Meat – is shutting down.

The owner, Todd Elsberry of North Pole, confirmed the news in a phone call with Alaska’s News Source on Thursday morning.

Elsberry said the plant is no longer accepting any animals for processing, and it will close its doors for good once it finishes processing 4-H animals by Nov. 1.

He cited the high cost of grain as the reason for closing one of the state’s only USDA-certified slaughterhouses, adding that it’s become too expensive to feed the animals awaiting processing.

Elsberry purchased the plant in 2021 from Mt. McKinley Meat and Sausage for an undisclosed price, with High Caliber Realty and Bill Borden listed as investors.

The plant is one of just three USDA-certified slaughterhouses in the state. Animal farmers need USDA-approved processing facilities to sell their meat commercially to grocery stores and restaurants.