N.Z. CHILLED BEEF IN U.S.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28820, 14 February 1959, Page 4

N.Z. CHILLED BEEF IN U.S.

The second experimental shipment of New Zealand chilled beef to the west coast of the United States arrived at Los Angeles in excellent condition on January 31, after an 18-day voyage. The motor-vessel Saracen, which took the chilled beef, unloaded 600 tons of New Zealand meat at Los Angeles, equalling the port record set last June by the Port Alma.

The assistant general manager of the port, Mr John F. Parkinson (shown on the left in the above photograph), said the whole shipment was worth about £132,000. Since July 1, the beginning of the port’s financial year, 1400 tons of New Zealand meat had arrived at Los Angeles. This had already broken the previous record—777 tons in the financial year which ended last June.

To meet the ship with Mr Parkinson was the manager of a customs brokerage firm, Williams, Clarke and Company, Mr James Clarke (shown on the 'right in the above photograph). Mr

Clarke represents one of the leading New Zealand meat importers in Chicago. Mr Clarke personally supervised the unloading of nearly 2500 cartons of frozen boneless beef consigned to International Packers, Ltd., of Chicago, for distribution throughout the southern California market and parts of Utah and Arizona.

“We expect this trade to expand far beyond the almost phenomenal growth it had already experienced, especially since United States meat inspectors have given high grading to the meat,” Mr Parkinson said.

The method of Federal mea inspection involves three agencies—the United States meat in

spection division, for all chilled and frozen products; the Department of Agriculture, which inspects all barrelled meat; and the California meat inspection, which checks fresh frozen meat only —not the cured or salted. All these Government agencies —both Federal and State—have given their endorsement to the New Zealand products.