True North Foods — slaughter plant north of Carman — is now able to process meat bound for export to the U.S. and across Canada.

Owner Calvin Vaags says they received federal certification at the end of November, which means they are now allowed to ship beef across Canada and bison to the U.S. market.

With the next closest slaughter plant several hundred miles away in Brooks, AB, Vaags says Manitoba producers now have a significant processing facility right here at home.

"Traditionally cattle leave the province of Manitoba, and they'll either go to Alberta, or they'll go as far down south as Nebraska, Illinois, places like that, or all the way over to Guelph, Ontario," Vaags says.

"Nothing happens overnight, but our capacity will continue to grow here until we reach what we're designed for, which is about 1000 head per week, and you know, over the next two years, we should get there."

Vaags also says they're continuing to work on other certifications to get into international markets.

True North Foods, located on the property formerly known as Plains Processors, has been operating under a provincial stamp since summer of 2014. Right now, True North Foods employs about 30 people, and is working toward hiring about 50 more employees.