Meat co-op dilemma
Meat processor Alliance Group's cash-strapped farmer shareholders face a dilemma - either pour more money into the co-operative or risk losing 100% ownership and control.
Hosted by celebrity chef Richard Till and former All Black Frank Bunce, the series, which started on Monday (August 25), moves down the South Island, spending time in each region, visiting farms and sourcing the best cuts of Alliance Group's Pure South products from six of the cooperative's suppliers.
After spending time with farmers and getting an understanding of life on a working farm, Till shows viewers how to turn the meat into restaurant quality meals while Bunce searches for other ingredients and shows off what the South Island has to offer.
Murray Brown, general manager marketing for Alliance Group, said: "This series provides a fascinating insight into some of our suppliers' farms and underlines the quality of our Pure South products.
"We believe it's important that people understand where their food comes from and Till and Bunce bring this to life in an entertaining way. The programme showcases the best meat in the world and teaches viewers how to take the freshest cuts and local produce and turn them into delicious, home-cooked meals."
Each episode visits one of the South Island's regions, starting in Marlborough and finishing in Southland.
In the first episode, Till visited Lachie and Fiona Taylor in St Arnaud to source a prime cut for a charred lamb dish, while Bunce took a sea-kayak ride through the Marlborough Sounds on the hunt for fresh mussels.
During their visit to Queenstown and Fiordland in episode five, Bunce goes for a fishing lesson on Doubtful Sound while Till visits Alliance supplier Owen Buckingham in Te Anau and is given a lamb rack for the centre piece of the meal.
Gourmet Safari will air on Heartland TV until September 29 2014 on Mondays at 8pm. Recipes for Richard Till's dishes will also be available from www.puresouth.com
Murray Brown said that the show's producers are currently working with an international distributor to offer the series to broadcasters overseas which would provide additional exposure for the company's brand.
Alliance Group is a co-operative owned by approximately 5000 farmer shareholders and is the world's largest processor and exporter of sheepmeat.
Gourmet Safari Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTkjySWt8po
Alliance Group Suppliers by episode and scheduled screening date
1. Marlborough: Lachie and Fiona Taylor (Lamb) –25 August 2014
2. Canterbury: Ben and Jennifer Rutherford (Lamb) –1 September 2014
3. South Canterbury: Mike, James and Jan Studholme (Angus Beef) –8 September
4. Wanaka: Jonathan Wallis (Venison) –15 September
5. Te Anau: Owen Buckingham (Lamb) –22 September
6. Balfour: Mike Wilkins (Venison) –29 September
