Navajo business to open meat processing plant

GALLUP, N.M. (AP) – Ramah Navajo Foods has announced plans to open a meat processing and wholesale distribution center in McKinley County.

Ramah Navajo Foods is a joint venture between Blue Mountain Meats of Monticello, Utah, and the Navajo Nation's Ramah Chapter in western New Mexico. State officials say this will be the first tribal, public and private economic development project in the state.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, McKinley County, the city of Gallup and others are also helping with the project.

Ramah Navajo Foods has purchased 15 acres of private land and will begin building a processing plant by next spring. It will be the first medium-sized USDA certified plant in the state.

The company expect to process 2,000 animals annually and will initially employ 12 people.