Quality Poultry General Manager Says Impact is Tremendous

According to Barkman the impact is tremendous and the losses so far are about half a million dollars during one of the busiest times of the year. For now, the resolution of the standoff is crucial.

On the Phone: Raymond Barkman, General Manager, Quality Poultry Products

“I have another ship that I have some turkeys on that took a different route. If these guys will be able to figure this stuff out, I should still be able to have turkeys in by…I have another ship that has turkeys as well. I hope this one will be able to come in. it should come in today or tomorrow, which would be lucky so that we can see where we stand.”

Duane Moody

“Sir if the strike persists and is still into effect today or tomorrow when that cargo comes in, what could be your plan B to ensure that you get those turkeys in and to your customers?”

Raymond Barkman

On the Phone: Raymond Barkman

“Well you see, then we’ll have problems. I have looked into the situation of bringing it through Mexico, but there is a lot of red tape there bringing it through Mexico because there is a lot of issues.  I have considered it seriously. I have been looked into the option, but it is not favorable for anybody and I will be running a huge risk with Mexican authorities to begin with because they don’t like anything coming through in turkey form or chicken in their country to begin with. So that option in dwindling. I had high hopes yesterday with that road, but that option is dwindling at the moment. I have not given up completely.”

Duane Moody

“What would you say are the implications that this is having on your business?”

On the Phone: Raymond Barkman

“My goodness, it is huge. I don’t have an answer for that as yet. It is just bad in every area. For revenue, in sales, in our reputation…anything you can point our finger to. And we all know how this will go; that the blame will come back to us somehow and not the stevedores. And obviously the union or the stevedores won’t pay so obviously it will come back to us. So geez, this is huge.”