Debbie Downie

Debbie D’s Jerky & Sausage Factory

2210 Main Ave. N., Tillamook

Delicious sausage products made from lean beef and game at this shop in Tillamook County arrive on Clatsop County’s doorstep every week. Visit the sausage factory from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Order online at (www.debbiedssausage.com) or meet Downie at the Warrenton Cash-and-Carry at 10 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call (503) 842-2622.

What do you do?

“I use high quality, lean, ground Oregon beef and hand-blended fresh herbs to make a very special sausage line. My sausage is low in fat and sodium and with a minimum of preservatives. It is ideal for the health conscious. I use a variety of products to make hot and spicy sausage, as well as teriyaki. This time of year I process a lot of game meat for hunters. I make products from pretty much anything, including salmon, sturgeon and even emu. Salmon is our specialty and it is simply the best jerky product anywhere. Once a week I make a trip to the Cash-and-Carry in Warrenton to pick up hunter’s game for processing here, and deliver it a week later. I may also bring local beef products. Customers need to call ahead to let me know they will be there. I can also fill orders in the shop or by mail.”

How did you get started doing this?

“I was raised on a dairy farm. My late husband and I ran C & W Meats in Bay City from 1976 to 1980, then I worked for Old Trapper Smoked Products until 1985. I opened this factory because I felt I could make a better product.”

What can you tell us about your volume of business?

“I make thousands of pounds of sausage every year. During the game season, from September through March, I process 20,000 pounds of meat. I do all the processing with the help of one employee, working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. I get a great deal of satisfaction to know at the end of the day I have made 1,000 pounds of sausage.”

What is your strategy for coping with the current economy?

“I run an ad every Friday in The Daily Astorian for the game processing. This is really important to me because 75 percent of my business comes from the Clatsop County region. Business really fell off in 2008 and ’09 but has come back this year. I never let up or compromised on our quality and service. I never mix batches even if I have to produce a small quantity.”