Tulare butcher shop wins state competition

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Tulare butcher shop brought home the bacon at a recent state competition.

Tulare Meat Locker and Sausage Company Owner Danny Mendes entered twenty of his products at the Cured and Processed Meat Championships held at Chico State last weekend.

Mendes and his team won awards for eleven of his meats, including 'Grand Champion' awards for their peppered jerky, jalapeno cheese stick, honey deli ham and bacon. It was their first time competing in the event, which is put on by the California Association of Meat Processors. "Before you know it a pile of awards started stacking up, and you can hear people around like 'Who's this guy from Tulare?'" Mendes said. "First time at the show, it was pretty impressive. Still on cloud nine for sure ."

Mendes says next year's competition will be held at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.

He hopes to continue his winning streak by coming up with new ideas.