It has taken several years to get the Arkansas Meat Inspection Program up and running, but efforts to expand livestock producers access to state meat inspection services have accelerated in the last year.
The program, which received federal approval last fall, aims to expand the market for cattlemen by allowing state-certified facilities to sell beef within the state.
JACO Meats in Hope and Arkansas State University s Meat Market in Jonesboro are the first two meat processing facilities in Arkansas licensed by the state s new meat inspection program.