Rich Market For Frozen Packaged Lamb In U.S.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 22

Rich Market For Frozen Packaged Lamb In U.S.

(New Zealand Press Association)

WANGANUI, Nov. 15. Australia was beating New Zealand to the rich American packaged frozen lamb market, said Mr R. M. Hays, an American agent for a New Zealand meat-packing concern, in Wanganui today. “I’m here to encourage New Zealand meat-packers to send even more meat to America,” Mr Hays said. During the last three years, he had seen a big de-

velopment in the trade with America, he said. Today, New Zealand meat topped other export meats for quality and New Zealand had gained a reputation, for production dependability. But Mr Hays said New Zealand lamb should be sent to America packaged ready for immediate sale in shops. This also applied to middle cuts, which were difficult to fabricate overseas once they were frozen. Australia was leading New Zealand in this field. Australian lamib was just starting to reach American consumers. “The United States market has a greater potential for lamb than for beef,” Mr Hays said. “America doesn’t have the same scope for lamb-raising.” Lamb had been on a pedestal in America. Only the “upper 10” could afford to eat it. New Zealand producers could sell it at a high price. Mr Hays was asked if there were any barriers to New Zealand lamb going into America. “There are none, whatsoever,” he said. There was a fictitious story that United States lamb producers would stop the sale of New Zealand lamb, but he described tods as “poppycock.” “American lamb producers made fools of themselves. They hollered before they were hurt,” he said. Introduction of Australian and New Zealand lamb to the United States market would help consumption. There would be a tagger demand once people became used to eating lamb. Mr Hays said New Zealand lambs were marketed younger than those in America, which would qualify as hogget in New Zealand. “What we need is a 40 to 451 b lamb,” he said. New Zealand could send its smaller lambs to Smithfield. “We’ll take all the bigger ones,” he said.