The United States Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC] partnered with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Wellington recently to launch American turkey onto an Auckland restaurant’s menu. This is believed to be the first time U.S. turkey has been featured on a restaurant menu since market access was granted in late 2016.
“A menu promotion of this type, using U.S. farmed food products, is a nationwide first in New Zealand,” said FAS Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Brendan Cody, who is based in Wellington. “New Zealand consumers are interested in trying new products and this promotion is a great way to get the word out and help them become familiar with the wide variety of U.S. turkey and other American meat products.
“Most Kiwis have only had turkey at Christmas, and the reactions from attendees at the launch event, some whom were trying turkey burgers and shredded turkey sandwiches for the first time, was extremely positive.”
The American diner-themed menu promotion will run for the next two months at the Lumsden Freehouse in Auckland, and features U.S. pork. The event was organised by Brendan Cody, FAS Wellington, and attended by fifty people from distributors, hotels, retail and chefs, and included FAS Agricultural Counselor Levin Flake, and U.S. Consul General Katelyn Choe, who welcomed guests by explaining how food brings cultures together. Turkey products were donated by Foster Farms and Jennie-O Turkey Store.
