Day 066 - 14 Dec 94 - Page 42


     
     1        totality, I would say, three times.  It is a co-operative.
     2
     3   Q.   It is a co-operative, as you rightly say?
     4        A.  Yes, and we have made a decision that we could not live
     5        with that.  We have more than just company relationship.
     6        We have people relationship.  And, as you would understand,
     7        it is very difficult to have a relationship with people
     8        that are being replaced sometimes on a monthly basis.
     9
    10   Q.   So what have you done about it?
    11        A.  What we have done is that we have developed a new
    12        supplier that is currently producing the majority of our
    13        products in Costa Rica and we are in the process of phasing
    14        out Coope Montecillos.
    15
    16   Q.   Where do the new suppliers get their cattle from in Costa
    17        Rica?
    18        A.  In Costa Rica is from an area called Guanacaste and it
    19        is a dry forest.  It would be, if I can describe it, it
    20        will be when you see a picture of African TV, of small
    21        brushes, it is dry.  That is the conditions that these
    22        cattle is grown under and it has been a cattle area since
    23        the 1500s for definitely more than 100 years.
    24
    25   Q.   In 1992 you were still dealing with Coope Montecillos?
    26        A.  Yes.
    27
    28   Q.   I think it was a man called Rodolfo Madrigal?
    29        A.  That is correct.
    30
    31   Q.   Who sent you this fax?
    32        A.  Right.  He is a McDonald's person and he is still with
    33        the company.
    34
    35   Q.   I see.  Did you at that time know the Coope Montecillos
    36        people?
    37        A.  Yes, I did.
    38
    39   Q.   Did you know at that time where Coope Montecillos got their
    40        Costa Rican beef?
    41        A.  That is correct.
    42
    43   Q.   Did you know?
    44        A.  Yes, I did know.
    45
    46   Q.   What part of country is that?
    47        A.  It is the same part of the country, the area called
    48        Guanacaste.
    49
    50   MS. STEEL:  Can I just ask how that is spelt? 
    51 
    52   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  Could you spell it out?  Just say the 
    53        letters.  You were going to write it down?
    54        A.  G-U-A-N-A-C-A-S-T-E.
    55
    56   MR. RAMPTON:  Dr. Gomez Gonzales, do you know where the Procarne
    57        people in Guatemala get their beef?
    58        A.  Yes, I do.
    59
    60   Q.   Whereabouts in the country is that?

Prev Next Index