| name: | Sergio Quintana |
| section: | Environment |
| for: | The Defence |
| experience: | Meat plant manager |
summary:
Here in the Montecillos cooperative, we do not just produce for the export market. We also produce for our internal market. It is true that we slaughter approximately 70% of the cattle for our internal market.We also process the meat into different cuts of beef and into sausages. We started producing in this area about eight years ago. We also make minced meat for hamburgers which we sell here and in our branches. However, recently, we have become one of the largest suppliers to the fast food chains in this country and in particular to McD. We now sell a total of between 20 and 24 tonnes of minced meat for hamburgers per month, which is produced here in the Montecillos Cooperative.
cv:
not available
Full cv:
(not available for this witness)
full statement:
Witness Statement - Quintana
Filmed interviews from Costa Rica
COOPE-MONTECILLOS
CONVERSATION WITH TWO MANAGERS
(Beep)
Question: You are here in Montecillos in the largest factory for meat production in Costa Rica. Can you tell me something about the significance of meat production, its export and the custom of meat export in your country?
Yes. Meat is the third most important agricultural product in Costa Rica. We export it - large amounts of meat are used in the United States. We export what we call "industrial meat". That accounts for approximately 70% of the meat we produce....
(Broken off)
(Beep)
Question: We are here in Costa Rica's largest meat production factory. Can you tell me something about the work which is done here, where the meat is delivered and what significance it has for your country?
Sergio Quintana: Montecillos is indeed one of the largest factories in the country. Meat is our country's third most important agricultural product. We export the meat to the United States, and 70% of the meat goes to food production outlets, such as restaurant chains like McD, Wendy's and others - the rest of the meat is delivered to local supermarkets. There are different special parts [of the animal] which are used for fast foods, that is chiefly the meat which is described as lean meat, which is particularly good for use in fast food production. The country has been exporting meat to foreign markets for 20 years. and we are one of the small countries which supplies meat to the USA.
(Mumbling)
(Beep)
Question: We are here in one of the largest meat factories and meat processing factories in Costa Rica. Can you tell us something about the significance of the meat factor [(?)] for your country's export?
Yes. Meat is one of our country's most important agricultural products. Costa Rica has been exporting [meat] for 20 years. We export to the United States - it is the largest country [to which we export], and we sell the meat with the help of a middleman who works for us in the USA on a commission basis.
(Beep)
Question: We are here in Montecillos in one of the largest meat factories in Costa Rica. Can you tell us about the significance of meat export and meat production for Costa Rica?
Yes. Montecillos... (broken off).
(Bleep),
Question again
Sergio Quintana: Yes. Meat is our country's third most important agricultural product. We have been exporting meat for twenty years. We export 95% of the meat we produce to the United States. Last year that amounted to approximately 15,000 tonnes. We sell the meat on a commission basis to a middleman. 70% of this meat is sold as "industrial meat" to the fast food chains such as McD, Burger King and others. The rest of the meat is sold either fresh or frozen as steak (special cut).
Question: Do you really supply the fast food chains? Are you sure that the meat which you sell to the middleman is earmarked for this purpose?
Yes. Because the type of meat we produce must comply with all the technical requirements which are laid down in the United States. For example, they only buy meat which must be at least 80 or 90% lean according to the type of product it will be used for.
Question: Which fast food chains do you supply - which ones?
We supply McD and Burger King - and also Wendy's. They buy our meat.
(Beep)
Question: Here in the Montecillos Cooperative, you do not only slaughter animals, you also process them into hamburgers. Can you tell us something about that business?
Yes. Here in the Montecillos cooperative, we do not just produce for the export market. We also produce for our internal market. It is true that we slaughter approximately 70% of the cattle for our internal market.We also process the meat into different cuts of beef and into sausages. We started producing in this area about eight years ago. We also make minced meat for hamburgers which we sell here and in our branches. However, recently, we have become one of the largest suppliers to the fast food chains in this country and in particular to McD. We now sell a total of between 20 and 24 tonnes of minced meat for hamburgers per month, which is produced here in the Montecillos Cooperative.
Question: Is this part of the trade growing?
(No answer in the transcript. End of transcript)
| date signed: | not dated |
| status: | Statement read out in court |
exhibits: Not applicable/ available
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