Today’s shenanigans come to you from Lake Pukaki in Central Otago, New Zealand.
I think I’ve found my favorite trail snack – Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue from Kapiti – I swear it will turn a 15-mile trek into a brisk walk. It just goes to show that as the world’s top dairy exporter, New Zealand has its s*** figured out, and the Americans need to step up their game.
There are two traditional approaches to the dairy sector: French vs. American. The French way is centered around small towns, with lower throughput, and offering specific products to the local community (oh, and the safety standards are subpar). The American way is to supersize everything for more reliability and a more economical system. And you don’t have to worry about subsidies like the French (and yes, everything is safer).
The issue for the French is that you can’t scale their system. The issue for Americans is that not everyone wants American Cheese. However, the Kiwis found the perfect blend of both. They have low costs thanks to mellow weather, rain, and open land. Since they don’t have many people, they have plenty of leftover products to export….and they know how to create specialized goods that people actually want.
Finding a balance of scale and specificity seems to be the sweet spot for the dairy industry…now we just have to convince Kapiti to start selling this stuff back in the States.
CHECK OUT KĀPITI
They’ve been doing it since 1984, so they know a thing or two about dairy. Although we might not be able to get this in the States, we can still admire from a distance…
CHECK OUT ÍSEY
Have you heard of creme brúlée skyr before? You need to try it…
Here at Zeihan On Geopolitics we select a single charity to sponsor. We have two criteria:
First, we look across the world and use our skill sets to identify where the needs are most acute. Second, we look for an institution with preexisting networks for both materials gathering and aid distribution. That way we know every cent of our donation is not simply going directly to where help is needed most, but our donations serve as a force multiplier for a system already in existence. Then we give what we can.
Today, our chosen charity is a group called Medshare, which provides emergency medical services to communities in need, with a very heavy emphasis on locations facing acute crises. Medshare operates right in the thick of it. Until future notice, every cent we earn from every book we sell in every format through every retailer is going to Medshare’s Ukraine fund.
And then there’s you.
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