Local meat lockers report they’re benefitting during pandemic

Two local meat lockers have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic like so many other in the packing plant and agriculture industries. While the large meat packing plants are seeing outbreaks of the virus across the state smaller meat lockers are seeing an increase of customers.

Milo Locker, located in Milo in Warren County, has been in business 20 years and has never seen anything like this happen in the industry. Owners Angie and Darrell Goering recently moved to a larger facility and the timing couldn’t have been better. The new 13,000 square feet facility has allowed the business to keep up with the high demand of their retail meat business and small grocery store, where Angie said, “We’ve never run out of toilet paper.”

They only work with Iowa farmers and to supply the business with retail meat. The locker works with Iowa farmers to slaughter pork, beef and lamb. They are booked out through June for processing, and are able to hang beef for up to 30 days.

With people wanting to be sure they know where their food is coming from Milo Locker has seen increased business.

“It’s been hard to keep the fresh meat cases full,” said Angie.

When large chain grocery stores began to run out of ground beef Milo Locker started getting more and more calls.

While business is good for the locker, the Goering’s see themselves as working for the farmer and feel for all the producers who are struggling with places to take their livestock with large packers being rife with COVID-19 outbreaks.

“We’re here for them as much as we can be,” said Angie.

Another local locker that has seen an increase in business during the pandemic is Weaver Meats, located in Afton in Union County.

Weaver Meats has had to start turning some business away due to locker space being so full. They are keeping busy while maintaining recommended distancing and sanitation.

“There’s definitely more demand with the packers closing and people want to know where they’re getting their meat from,” said owner Kyle Weaver.

Weaver Meats has seen an increase in new retail customers since packing plant outbreaks have occured in the state. They have had callers for their slaughter business but they are currently booking into July now. They are booked 60-90 days out at any give time for processing.

Due to the virus they have begun screening all employees upon entry, and wearing masks and gloves and keeping social distancing.

“We’re running each of our rooms pretty much five days a week where normally we wouldn’t, we’d concentrate on just a couple rooms a day, just to keep everyone spaced out from each other,” said Weaver.

Customers are encouraged to call in for large orders and to call when bringing animals in.

Weaver Meats will begin processing pork from the Iowa Pork Producers for the Food Bank of Iowa May 12.