After two years of planning the big day has arrived and Andrew Stroonbergen and Peter Hedgecock load up Waikanae Butchery’s brand new Fiat Ducato Maxi van. The van was built in Holland and shipped to NZ so Andrew can supply his great produce to Wellington’s Chaffers Market on Sundays. Now, following an invitation from Joanne Welch at Summerset Retirement Village, Andrew drives his van around four retirement villages on the Kapiti Coast each Friday supplying the good folk with lovely fresh meat and his famous smallgoods.

Butcher loading fresh meat in the Waikane Butcher mobile van

Close up photo of terrine and salamis for Waikanae Butcher's mobile van.

Customer being served at the Waikane Butcher mobile van.

Andrew talking to customer about the Waikane Butcher mobile van.

Waikane Butcher Mobile Van driving along road.

Customers shopping for fresh veges in open air market.

Customers waiting at the Waikane Butcher Mobile Van.

Andrew weighing meat in the Waikane Butcher Mobile Van.

Andrew serving customer from the Waikane Butcher Mobile Van.

Andrew exchanging sausages for bananas at market.

Portrait of Andrew Stroonbergen holding his famous pork sausages

Located in Hastings, the Organic Farm Butchery processes and distributes beef and lamb from Ti Kouka an organic farm near Waimarama (they also have some pigs). After photographing at the farm last year I thought it would would good to see another side of the operation. The mainstream media have published large quantities of material about farmers markets, local produce and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from.

However thinking more about images of beef carcasses and slabs of meat I wonder if the public is ready for an even closer viewpoint. While I was photographing, numerous boxes of organic meat went out the door. Nothing was wasted as the bones seen in the trolley were destined for the beef stock at a gourmet food supplier.

Waikanae Butchery goes mobile | Murray Lloyd Photography

Hawkes Bay Organic Butcher | Murray Lloyd Photography