The switch from state inspection of products produced by Kalona Meats (formerly Kalona Locker) from state to federal inspection will result in some product changes and additions, according to owner Charles Graves.

“Our switch from state to USDA will allow us to ship our quality products across state lines, but it does require us to make some changes in our operations,” Graves noted.

“We can not mix custom butchering with the butchering of livestock for our own Amishmaid labeled products,” Graves pointed out. That has resulted in a reduction in custom butchering, but an upgrade in the quality of processed products under the Amishmaid label.

“We butcher everything that we sell,” he noted. “We have increased the quality by buying only naturally raised livestock from area farmers. That includes beef, pork and goat.

“We also have had to stop producing canned meats as USDA doesn’t allow glass containers,” he pointed out. Cost of production has made that item marginal.

“Due to the ever increasing problem of finding good employees, it also has become difficult to affordably do custom butchering,” Graves added. He has sold lockers that were removed to a local Amishman. As the lockers are being cleaned out, those units are being moved to a farm facility.

Many products the same

Graves stressed that many of the Kalona Meats products are the same, if not improved.

“We still have most of the processed products we’ve always had including bologna, wieners, salami, bratwurst, dinner franks, bacon, dried beef, beef jerky, fresh and frozen steaks and roasts, smoked pork chops, little smokies, smoked whole hams, bacon, lamb etc.,” he said.

“He will also add some new items, including fresh bratwurst, marinated ribeyes, bacon wrapped fillets and whole muscle jerky, and a large variety of cheese,” he said.

“All our meats are available fresh with advance notice,” he pointed out. On Fridays and Saturdays he plans to regularly have fresh steaks including ribeyes and filets.

Besides adding cheese, Graves has a large selection of sauces for meats, jams and preserves, cookie mixes and crackers, plus soft drink coolers.

Graves has remodeled the retail area, added new freezers, a refrigerated display case and a variety of displays for products to compliment his meat and cheese offerings. The cheese will be marketed under the Amishmaid private label.

In addition to an expanded retail area, Graves plans to step up his mail order business and has hired two salesmen to make Amishmaid meat products available in other areas.

As soon as the remodeling is completed, Kalona Meats and Cheese will be have an open house to introduce their new products and show off their new retail room.

“You don’t have to wait for the open house,” Graves stressed. “Stop by anytime to see our progress and sample our products.”

Graves again stressed that other than canned meats, all the other Kalona Meats products will be available. Butchering and processing will be done on site. And an effort is being made to have a consistant quality by purchasing meats from naturally raised livestock by area farmers.