Move over ham, here comes lamb
It’s official, lamb will take centre stage on Kiwi Christmas tables this year.
Social media is helping our beef and lamb exporters win new fans.
Facebook is playing an increasingly important role in Beef + Lamb New Zealand's international marketing programmes, as more and more tech-savvy shoppers turn online for the scoop on consumer products.
In Germany, the UK, and now Taiwan too, social networking website Facebook is enabling communities of fans to come together and tell their friends about how much they love New Zealand beef and lamb.
Crucially, the site provides a forum for consumers to share information and inspiration, as well as seek it. Fans can post recipes and pictures of dishes that they've cooked, ask questions – and answer them.
"Word of mouth has always been the best form of advertising," says Craig Finch, B+LNZ general manager market development.
"Facebook is just a modern way of doing that, with a growing number of champions for New Zealand beef and lamb in our key export markets."
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has consumer websites in the UK, Germany, Korea and Japan, as well as one for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and jointly hosts another in the US.
"They're a valuable way of providing easily accessible product information that helps to boost people's preference for buying Kiwi," Finch says. "Adding Facebook to the mix only increases our reach even further."
Irrigation NZ is warning that the government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform risks falling short of its objectives unless water use for food production and water storage infrastructure are clearly recognised in the goals at the top of the new system.
More than five million trays, or 18,000 tonnes, of Zespri’s RubyRed Kiwifruit will soon be available for consumers across 16 markets this season.
The Government has announced its support for 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund.
New data shows that pork remains one of the more affordable meat options for New Zealand households at a time when grocery costs continue to put pressure on budgets.
The South Island Dairy Event's BrightSIDE has named Jessica Kilday as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.
Scientists from the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao has achieved a successful cocksfoot-ryegrass cross capable of producing fertile seed, a world-first.