Bell Aquaculture of Redkey, Ind., this week launched an online ordering system for consumers, as it prepares to develop new farmed yellow perch products this year and expand production early next year.
By March, Bell will be harvesting 24,000 pounds of yellow perch monthly for its unbreaded perch fillets, frozen breaded perch fillets and frozen breaded perch Cajun Nuggets.
In addition, the company’s products are now available online at www.bellperch.com, instead of just through regional restaurants and special events. Consumers can buy the breaded perch fillets in five-pound and 20-pound packages, for around USD 13.99 (EUR 10.19) per pound. Unbreaded perch fillets will be available on the site later this year.
Meanwhile, Bell Aquaculture is developing other perch products this year and expanding production early next year.
“We are in the process of adding additional products, including traditional battered and breaded products and some smoked products,” Norm McCowan, president and CEO of Bell Aquaculture, told SeafoodSource.
In June, Bell will begin construction on another production building in nearby Albany, Ind., which will boost production by an additional 60,000 pounds a month when it opens in early 2011.
In addition to its increased focus nationwide with online ordering, Bell has its sights sets on larger customers than regional restaurants.
“We are talking with some food distributors [to grocers] and chain restaurants,” said McCowan.
Bell Aquaculture began selling its perch products in 2008, touting the company’s regular testing for mercury and toxins.
“It’s a higher quality product from the standpoint that there is no real possibility of contaminants entering into the food chain during their growth,” said McCowan.
Bell also processes its fish in-house.
