NEW YORK — Silver Fern Farms, a New Zealand-based lamb, beef and venison producer, announced that it will increase the availability of its product to US consumers and customers.

The company previously announced in October 2019 that it would enter the retail space in the United States. Silver Fern exports its product from 14 processing facilities throughout New Zealand.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has been fully operational with additional measures implemented to maintain production. New Zealand has reported 1,497 cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths according to data from Johns Hopkins.

“We have maximized worker safety at all points of our operation, and strictly kept to guidelines and requirements outlined by government agencies during this difficult time,” said Matt Luxton, country manager USA/North America for Silver Fern Farms.

New Zealand is the fourth-largest international supplier of meat to the US food market. Currently the company sells meat in the Tri-State region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

“There have been many uplifting responses within the US food processing industry to steady the national food supply,” Luxton said. “We commend the US, its processing plants, and its worker unions for acting to increase worker testing, improving access to protective equipment, and activating federal oversights to ensure the safety of all US meatpacking plants. As we go through this challenging time together, Silver Fern Farms is committed to providing its best pasture-raised beef and venison for our customers throughout the United States.”