Golden Tuna brand samples closer
Cabinet has approved the “Golden Tuna” brand initiative proceeding, Marine Minister Hon Teina Bishop told the Times on Thursday morning.
The American company “Sunkist” has offered to produce a range of sample products for government to consider. This will be done at Sunkist’s cannery in Pago and at a cost of $395,000 to the company.
The range of products will be similar to those being produced for the USA market with a special emphasis on school kid’s meal packages. The Sunkist range for children includes school packs of small tuna cans with crackers and spoons.
Bishop said he would like to see our school children having the same range at an affordable price.
Bishop envisages Sunkist supplying the New Zealand and Cook Islands markets with some eventually being exported to China.
“Imagine supplying the Chinese with the completed, value added product,” said Bishop.
As to the wholesale and retail arrangements for the Cook Islands, Bishop said the overriding aim is for the product to be available at the same affordable price in all stores without the added costs from middlemen. To this end government will need to consider whether to enter into a joint partnership with the private sector or run the operation under a commercial arm attached to the Marine Ministry.
Bishop said the country imports around $500,000 of tinned fish each year and this is a chance for us to eat our own tinned fish at an affordable cost.
As to the winning brand designed for a recent competition, Bishop said this had been tidied up and the professional version looks spectacular. -By Charles Pitt

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