Knutzen’s Meats, 6404 W. Court St., Pasco, completed a $400,000 expansion that will almost double its ability to process custom harvested animals.

The addition includes a custom meat processing plant, retail counter, smokehouses, sausage kitchen, cooler and freezer. The cooler space grew by 590 square feet to a total of 1,190 square feet. The covered storage area grew by 240 square feet. The project added more parking too.

Knutzen’s Meats is a family-owned business led by Leigh Ann and Steve Knutzen. It has been on West Court Street for 35 of its 47 years. Steve started farm harvesting in 1974, custom processing in 1983 and selling USDA retail meat in 2001.

In addition to processing meat, Knutzen’s sells Choice and Prime grades of beef along with Painted Hills Natural beef, pork, buffalo, elk and lamb.

The Knutzens initially planned to expand in 2020 but postponed after demand for custom farm harvesting increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because hanging cooler space was limited, its customers sometimes had to wait for months to have their animals processed.

Doubling the size of the meat cooler means Knutzen can accommodate local farmers and process their meat in a timelier manner.

James Hummel of Hummel Construction & Development LLC of Richland was the contractor. Paul Knutzen, P.C., Knutzen’s Engineering of Kennewick, was the designer.

The project was completed on June 18.