First Frozen Lamb

125 years ago today, New Zealand sent its first shipload of frozen lamb to Britain. William Davidson and Thomas Brydone were responsible for that first shipment, which left Port Chalmers aboard the SS Dunedin on February 15, 1882. 98 days later, 5,000 sheep carcasses arrived in London, reportedly in good condition.

This may seem like mere historical trivia, but New Zealand was developed through agriculture and the ability to ship products to Britain and Europe created new opportunities. New Zealand's growth increased. Today, meat exports are worth about $5 billion a year.

When I was growing up, my mother cooked lamb frequently and I assumed most people had it, too. After I moved to New Zealand, I was told that most Americans have never even tasted lamb. It’s a shame, really, because lamb—and New Zealand lamb in particular—is really quite nice.

Nevertheless, we ended up having chicken on National Lamb Day.