Presentation of meat vital, farmers told

Press, 29 May 1984, Page 3

Presentation of meat vital, farmers told

Westport reporter Housewives of the world now buy meat from supermarkets and do not have the advice of their butchers. They buy what they like the look of and, if they like it, they come back again. This was the message ■ given by a member of the Meat Board, Mr Mervyn Barnett, to the annual West Coast provincial conference of West Coast Federated Farmers, in Westport last week. He spoke of the competition from white meats and the importance for constant reassessment of the market. The ability to compete both

in market and in internal costs was vital, he said. Attractively packaged meat which could be prepared for the table within half a hour was what was looked for by women, a large proportion of whom were now working and had little time for food preparation, said Mr Barnett. Some companies were now meeting this demand. Mr Barnett said that the lack of free markets was a continuing problem. Japan was one exception where there was potential. Research was under way for a new product for the Japanese market in 1985.