A beef promotion to help cattle producers was so successful it had to be cancelled.
More than 3,000 people ordered more than 100,000 pounds of beef at a price of $3 per lb. from the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society, which organized the sale to support local beef producers.
The overwhelming support swamped the organizers and the local packers who were hoping to sell 30,000-40,000 lb. of beef from the Sherwood Park headquarters.
“It was so overwhelmingly successful,” said Mary Hanson, of Viking, Alta., who took orders for part of the day. “It spoke to the need to help out local producers.”
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It didn’t take long for organizers to realize it would take months to process the amount of beef that they had promised customers would be ready in a couple of weeks.
Instead, the organizers said they would refund more than $300,000 to people who ordered the beef.
Paul Orlicz, a Sherwood Park cattle buyer, has jumped in to help fill the orders.
He’s matching cattle from local producers with four packing plants.
More than 200 people have reordered 25,000 lb. of beef.
Many of the customers still want to support local producers, but are waiting for a refund from their first order before reordering from Orlicz.
“They’re really supportive, but they know they’re getting a good deal,” said Orlicz.
