And the organic ceremonial cacao paste is derived from cacao beans, which are the basis for chocolate.<\/p>\n
Storkey said the shipment was supposed to arrive on February 25.<\/p>\n
Instead, he said he was devastated to find the shipment arrived a month late with hundreds of cartons sliced open. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019d spoken a week ago, I\u2019d still be in tears right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Storkeys had hoped the shipment would help them get through the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a really long road ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Storkey said the relevant shipping line and insurance company accepted no liability.<\/p>\n
But he said members of the community had rallied to support the family business.<\/p>\n
He said Seleno was based on principles of fair trade, sustainability and supporting indigenous communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started a business that was all about family and connection, really helping support biodiversity,\u201d he told the Herald.<\/p>\n
Musician Taylor Sol would host an event at Eastwest Yoga in Ponsonby tonight to raise funds.<\/p>\n
Storkey said he wanted to warn others about the potential risks of bringing goods through the US.<\/p>\n
He said the shipment went via Colombia and California before arriving wrecked in New Zealand.<\/p>\n
He said the total container value of stock was $219,000 and potential salvageable stock was perhaps half that.<\/p>\n
He said it would cost about $10,000 to recover and repackage salvaged stock safely. <\/p>\n
He estimated a monthly loss of income, while being out of stock, at $20,000 to $30,000 and Seleno also paid about $40,000 in GST.<\/p>\n
He wondered if US authorities were overzealously targeting shipments from South America.<\/p>\n
Drug testing was normal, and sometimes the company lost about 1% of a shipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to be ransacked like this … it\u2019s so unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n
Storkey said it seemed customs agents ripped open box after box, even after finding no illicit goods.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just seems bizarre … surely these agents have better ways of detecting drugs?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing we want to do is draw attention to some of the struggles small businesses face, particularly when importing products from overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Storkey said the importer told him the ransacking was \u201cunprecedented\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the cacao and maca products were thrown back in the container in California.<\/p>\n
Now he was wondering how the company would survive.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, we\u2019re just trying to stay afloat.\u201d <\/p>\n
US Customs and Border Protection has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n
The Storkeys\u2019 friend Pamela Chipana, a Peruvian living in New Zealand, has set up a Givealittle page<\/a>.<\/p>\n