North American Bison Cooperative
North American Bison Cooperative New Rockford, North Dakota Dennis Sexhus, Chief Operating Officer	Click for a better view!
In New Rockford, North Dakota, 180 bison producers formed the North American Bison Cooperative (NABC), which started operations in 1993 and gradually expanded to its full capacity of ten thousand head per year. NABC buys and processes the bison produced by members, and markets the fresh and specialty meats into Europe and the upscale restaurant trade on the east coast of the USA. Currently, NABC is the only USDA and European Union approved bison processing facility in the United States.	NABC Web Site
The problems facing bison producers previous to this move included the need for product and market development, a lack of processing facilities and marketing channels, and the absence of grading standards. The cooperative has dealt with these difficulties, providing co-ordination to the industry and developing strict grading standards. Member-owner investment in the organization has provided funds for research and development in production, processing, products, and markets.	About NABC
Health conscience diners are increasingly demanding bison, which is said to be low in fat and cholesterol and therefore healthier than beef. The strict grading standards and careful attention to production practices enable NABC to provide consumers with a high quality, healthy product. In June 1997, the NABC board of directors, recognizing that demand will soon surpass the capacity of the New Rockford plant, announced plans to build a satellite facility. Current membership in NABC, which covers fourteen states and four Canadian provinces, is 250, 60 of whom are Canadian producers.	Bison Info

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