CHALLENGE: Livestock data from the Freight Analysis Framework was used to profile food value chains related to livestock in and around Pittsburgh, PA. It revealed that the majority of nearly 5,000 tons of live animal production in an area within a 120 mile radius of Pittsburgh is exported annually to other markets outside of the region.

 

These conditions deny the region a chance for investment and jobs in the form of infrastructure to process, sell, and consume this food product. These conditions also subject the meat supply to volatile swings in price, quality, and quantity in this region, despite a steady and consistent supply.

 

INTEREST EXISTS: FOOD21 used a 2018 Livestock Survey of the in-field inventory of red meat within a target area of western Pennsylvania and evaluated best practices in efforts to assess the potential for a regional value chain in the livestock industry.  The results showed that interest has been growing steadily to establish reliable regional value chains for responsibly raised beef, pork and lamb.

 

COMMUNITY SELECTED: FOOD21 is in the initial stages  of organizing a local food value chain to serve southwestern Pennsylvania. One particular community of interest is Crabtree, PA in Westmoreland County. The data show that there is a lack of local meat processing infrastructure to capitalize on an in-field inventory of more than 326,000 beef cattle within a 50 mile radius of Crabtree. This is a community that has the potential to be a significant participant in a livestock value chain coordinated by Food21.