I was sitting around the other day my wife and I were talking about the job market here in Hawaii and how hard it is to get into any company that is already established not to mention over 80% are family owned and operated , We decided to just open up our own shop ! I will be making money while still learning hands on how to be a meat cutter / Butcher or even have a slaughterhouse shop on the side , but I need cash to be rolling in asap. So rolling 2 things every man and a few females love to do into 1 ....pull yer heads out the gutter for a sec , I am talking bout hunting and fishing . We have decided to get into the Smoking/Jerky Business . We have More than enough land to set up shop here at home and with me hunting (witch I love ) and Fishing (again witch I love ) or buying fresh caught at the docks from a few of my long line buddies , my wife and I can be filleting fish for smoking and wild Hogs for sausage . I have been doing so much research lately about all aspects from processing Health codes to Export of the products . Well that's what I have been up to ... If anyone has any tips or what not Please by all means I am all ears .. Aloha and Mahalo
Ps Thanks to you as well Leon you Email got me to thinking =)
-- Edited by Ainaloaguy on Tuesday 26th of April 2011 11:29:31 PM
I'll tell you it's not as easy as one might think. There are soooo many laws to protect the public and I guess that's good for the public but hard on the entrepreneur! Any meat to be sold retail whether it is jerky, sausage or whatever has to be slaughtered under federal inspection. You can of course buy from wholesalers USDA inspected meats and make jerky for retail. You probably know all this if you've been researching the matter. It takes some deeeeep pockets to get started. Now if you are processing game for people that's another story. If you are just providing a service (they bring in the meat and get their own meat back) the laws are much more relaxed depending on state guidelines many don't even have to be licensed.
You are very correct about all the Laws regarding food products . There were so many guidlines to follow it could make you dizzy . Beings how I am in Hawaii and we are not part of the continental US our laws are a bit more loose so long as I keep "said Items" sold here in Hawaii , If we start Exporting well then fall under a whole nother group of Laws on top of the ones already here in Hawaii . The main hurdle we are facing is how big we wanna go and how soon cause again we will have to dig deeper and deeper according to size , meaning adiquit storage , prep area ,processing area, and so on , not to mention they even have a guide line on vacum sealing products both for Island sales and Off Island export . The main people to handle every thing here for us is the Health Dept. my contact there is helping me alot with the diffrent laws and codes as well as sujested a very reputable attorney to help me look over all me licening and legal paper work ..... and hes cheap ! I'm smoking meat for him as we speak lol , gotta love Hawaii people still trade for what they need cash doesnt always need to change hands.
I've heard it cost a fortune to live there is that true? What is Journeyman scale $ there? So is it hard to find cutting work there if experienced?
Cost of living can be a little pricey depending on the individuals living style . I am not sure on the journeyman pay scale tho , but I can find out for you . As far as work there seems to be new stores popping up here and there . You got Costco and Safeway as the Bigger stores and an Island chain KTA . To be honest again I am not sure of who all is hiring experienced cutters cause I am only just learning so I'm the bottom fish haha
From reading what you said, I think you may have a good shot at having a money maker. meat shopds are making a come back again. people want good meat and most don't mind paying for it. Good Luck
