Fire Recovery Fund for Enright Cattle Company

The Enright Cattle Company, a cherished part of our community, experienced a devastating loss in late June 2024. A fire destroyed their building at Quinn's Meats, the abattoir where all their beef is processed.

Small abattoirs in rural Canada have been disappearing as factory farming grows. Overhead costs, labor shortages, and low profit margins have forced many to close. In Ontario, the number of provincially licensed abattoirs dropped from over three hundred in 1995 to just one hundred fifteen by 2021. This means small-scale farmers have to travel further and pay more for meat processing.

In 2021, the Enright’s purchased Quinn’s facility from its original owners to keep this vital abattoir running. Quinn’s Meats not only processes Enright’s cattle but also serves many other small farmers in our region.

More than just an abattoir, Quinn’s is also a beloved butcher shop that supports local growers and provides our community with high-quality, locally-sourced meats. Losing this facility is a heavy blow to our entire farming community.

Small-scale farming is tough but essential. We all need access to safe, ethically raised food that doesn’t travel thousands of miles to reach our tables. Enright's commitment to providing this is why we must support them now.

Recovering from this disaster will be challenging. Enright will need to find alternative ways to process their cattle while they rebuild their facility. Rebuilding will take time and require exhausting levels of approval from numerous governing bodies, including municipal and provincial authorities. This laborious process will divert attention from daily operations and incur significant costs.

This fund has been created by the Red Apron to give Enright the immediate financial support to cover expenses from this disaster, including processing, staff costs, and rebuilding. Your contribution will help ensure the Enright’s can continue providing quality food and support to our community. Together, we can help them rebuild and thrive once more.