Jurijs Prokofjevs, who is one of the initiators of the creation of the “Latvian cattle” co-op, said that the establishment is still in the beginning stage but the main thing is that the members of the cooperative are united with a common purpose. “My farm was one of those who offered cattle for export. Why can't Latvians eat quality beef? Then we had ten farms together, and one had the slogan born in Latvia and eaten in Latvia. Why should it be given away? And try to offer high-quality products to Latvian residents,” Prokofjevs said.
An Internet store has been set up and meat deliveries have been launched.
Alma Bērziņa, chair of the co-op, said that discussions with supermarkets are not as simple. There is the question of price, as well as the eating habits of Latvian residents.
“In our case, the problem is that in Latvia it is common for shops and consumers to face the cheap-grade beef. And when we come in with specially fattened animals up to two or two-and-a-half years of age, we don't really understand why that price is higher. We just have to find those stores who really want their quality, the high nutritional value that the product contains,” Bērziņa said.
Of course, the pandemic also has its own effects, as the supply of meat to restaurants and cafes declined.
Prokofjevs also said that one of the activities of the co-op is to introduce quality beef products to the Latvian consumer. In the long term, the development of cooperative farms also includes the idea of exporting its output.
