Silver Fern Farms
As the largest red meat producer and marketer in New Zealand, Silver Fern Farms is committed to creating goodness from the farms the world needs.
Producing high-quality, grass-fed red meat
In New Zealand, food insecurity is a serious issue that affects many people, especially those living in poverty, experiencing homelessness, or facing other challenges. According to the Ministry of Social Development, about 10% of households experience moderate to severe food insecurity, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to adequate and nutritious food. This can have negative impacts on their health, well-being, and social participation.
As the largest red meat producer and marketer in New Zealand, Silver Fern Farms is committed to creating goodness from the farms the world needs.
This means producing high-quality, grass-fed red meat for discerning international consumers, but it also means looking after our animals, the environment, and our communities.
Silver Fern Farms & Meat the Need
One of the ways Silver Fern Farms fulfils this purpose is as founding partner of Meat the Need. Together we have delivered over 1.3 million quality red meat meals to those in need since launching in 2020.
When founders Wayne Langford and Siobhan O’Malley approached Silver Fern
Farms to be Meat the Need’s processing partner it was against the backdrop of the initial Covid-19 lockdown. Given the uncertainty faced by many families it was an easy decision to fast track our involvement and establish a pilot programme supplying mince to Christchurch City Mission.
Silver Fern Farms accepts livestock donations from farmers, who can nominate the value of that animal to be converted into high-quality beef mince. Silver Fern Farms handles the processing and logistics and Meat the Need gets this delicious product to foodbanks and missions across the country, including into the rural regions where our generous farmers are located, as well as urban areas where there is high need.
One cow donated to Meat the Need could supply an entire year’s worth of red meat to a local foodbank.
Silver Fern Farms encourages farmers to consider whether they’re able to make a donation – of cattle, sheep or deer – and help New Zealanders in need. For any questions around the livestock donation process, contact your local Silver Fern Farms livestock representative.