Paradise Locker Meats, a longtime treasure for local communities, has been named the country’s leader in heritage pork processing and received the Grand Champion Award for its popular deli-shaved peppered beef by the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP).
This family-owned processor, which focuses on heritage hogs, was initially built in 1946 in Paradise. Local residents, Mario and Teresa Fantasma purchased the business in 1995, to provide custom processing for local hunters and farmers. But, in 2022, the shop caught fire while whole hogs were being cooked. In 2023, the Fantasmas moved their operations to Trimble.
Paradise Locker Meats won national recognition for its focus on heritage breed hogs raised by local Missouri and Kansas farmers through a partnership with Heritage Foods USA, a New York-based mail order and wholesale company founded in 2001 to preserve endangered species of livestock from extinction.
AAMP is North America’s largest meat trade organization, offering its members knowledge through education, regulatory representation, and networking opportunities.
One of the highlights of their annual convention is the American Cured Meat Championship, which academic and industry professionals judge. In 2024, 72 plants nationwide entered 813 products in 29 categories.
“This year’s competition was particularly challenging for our judges, given the large number of entries. The overall quality was high, and the winning companies truly delivered the best of the best. On behalf of AAMP and our members, we congratulate Paradise Locker Meats for their outstanding accomplishment,” AAMP Executive Director Chris Young said.
Before they found out they had won the award, Louis Fantasma, plant manager of Paradise Locker Meats, said his family was a bit on the edge of their seats.
“It was the last announcement of 29 classes of products and we hadn’t heard our name yet. We had felt really good about our peppered beef this year, but you never know with individuals judging food. We’ve been doing cured meat competitions since 2007. It’s still always a bit emotional to be recognized on that level, with that class of competition. There are some amazing producers across this country and to have products that have stood, and still stand up to that high bar that’s set, is a great sense of accomplishment. We owe a lot to the hard work of our staff, who are the ones that turn over these products day in and day out and make these great products that we have available for our clients and customers.”
With more than 50 employees, Paradise Locker Meats is considered in the top tier of butchers in the U.S. It has consistently served America’s best restaurants for the past 20 years. It processes 300-350 local animals weekly.
“Paradise Locker Meats is the place where the heritage meat movement began,” Patrick Martins, founder and president of Heritage Foods USA said. “They remain the standard bearer for custom slaughter and boutique butchering for family farms and heritage breeds. Heritage breed meat would not exist as a term in this country if not for Paradise Locker Meats.”
The Trimble facility includes a retail store offering various cuts of meat for local customers. The business also offers direct-to-consumer internet sales.
“The Fantasma family has been great friends to AAMP for many years,” Young said “Mario, Teresa, (and sons, Louis and Nick) have all given their time whenever we needed their help, including volunteering during our annual convention, leading an education session or serving on our board of directors,” Young said.
Louis recently was elected First Vice President to the 2024-25 AAMP Board of Directors.
“AAMP represents the nation’s small meat shops owned and operated by families just like mine, Louis said. “They are some of the best people on this earth, and I am honored to serve them. AAMP has been vital to the success of our business, and I’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to give back in this way.”
Paradise Locker Meats relies on a network of family farmers in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Illinois to provide the highest quality pasture-raised animals. The plant processes an array of local, humanely raised and ethically processed meats, including their award-winning fresh, cured and smoked pork products: bacon, burger, roasts, steaks, chops, ground meat, sausages and deli meats. The Fantasma’s Finest label also includes beef and poultry.
The company also provides custom fabrication to farmers, ranchers, butchers and an array of food professionals.
“We are so honored whenever our products receive recognition from AAMP’s expert panel of judges, but as one of the association’s most decorated processors, we were also proud to share our knowledge with the next generation of competitors at this year’s convention,” Louis said. “We value the creativity and craftsmanship that pushes us to continue to create quality products raised on local farms, crafted by local butchers and served at local tables.”
For Louis, the most rewarding part of growing Paradise Locker Meats is sharing in this adventure for almost 30 years with his family.
“We all have a passion for food and creating memories around amazing meals,” Louis said. “We all feel very blessed that we’ve been afforded the opportunity to be a beacon of employment for our staff, an outlet for our farmers, a reliable service provider, and an establishment where our customers can find meat products that are sourced from local farms, crafted by local butchers, and served on local tables.”