Northwest Premium Meats in Nampa has seen a big increase in customer demands during the pandemic.(Madelyn Beck / Mountain West News Bureau)

The pandemic slowed food supply lines across the country as workers at major meat processing plants got sick. That meant more ranchers were turning to local butchers for processing, and consumers were turning to them for meat.

Idaho Matters talks with Mountain West News Bureau reporter Madelyn Beck to learn how meat processing plants are doing now, and what that means for local hunters.