USDA wants to buy more US wild shrimp, pollock

Not long after purchasing hefty amounts of U.S. pollock, salmon, and other seafood, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now asking for bids on large quantities of wild shrimp and wild Alaska pollock nuggets.

The USDA is asking suppliers to bid on 318,000 containers of frozen peeled and deveined shrimp – required to be in two- or five-pound primary packages further packaged into 20-pound shipping containers – by 18 September. The shrimp will be delivered to several U.S. cities between 1 November, 2020, and 31 January, 2021.

The package specifications require that all IQF shrimp be packed in two-pound packages, while frozen block bulk shrimp should be packaged in five-pound primary packages. Both are then required to be in a 20-pound net weight shipping container.

The USDA is also asking for bids on nearly 1.3 million pounds of frozen Alaska pollock nuggets. Those bids are due by 19 September.

Deliveries of the pollock nuggets to several U.S. cities will be made between 1 November, 2020, and 31 January, 2020.

The USDA also recently asked suppliers to submit bids on 60,300 cases of frozen Atlantic pollock fillets, 31,500 cases of frozen ocean perch fillets, and 23,400 cases of frozen haddock fillets.

Due to COVID-19 assistance programs – along with other USDA buying programs – the agency has purchased large amounts of U.S. seafood this year.

In May, the USDA said it spent USD 70 million (EUR 59 million) in seafood under its Section 32 program, which purchases surpluses and directs their use in children’s nutrition and disaster relief programs.

And, as of August, the agency purchased around 10.7 million pounds of wild Alaska pollock, worth USD 22.65 million (EUR 19 million).  

Subscribe

Want seafood news sent to your inbox?

You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101 | +1 207-842-5500
None