Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition changing things up for 25th edition

The 25th edition of the Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition will have some changes to its timeline, according to the event’s organizer, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF). 

The competition – which sees value-added product developers in Alaska face off in four categories including Retail, Foodservice, Beyond the Plate and Beyond the Egg – will release its “Call for Product” announcement in mid-August 2017, with entry forms and fees coming due on 6 October, 2017. Judging and open house events will take place in Seattle during the week of 13 November, and Juneau in mid-February 2018. 

As is the norm, winners of the competition will be invited to showcase their products during the Seafood Expo North America (SENA) event, to be held in Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A. from 11 to 13 March, 2018. However, for the first time, Symphony winners will also be entered into the Seafood Excellence Awards competition, taking place in conjunction with SENA.

Also new for this year’s competition and festivities is a unique sponsorship for the Alaska Symphony of Seafood during the Pacific Marine Expo (PME), taking place in Seattle, Washington from 16 to 19 November, 2017.

A special “Hall of Fame” installment featuring the winning products of the Alaska Symphony of Seafood over the past 25 years will be on display at PME in Seattle, with a panel presentation also scheduled to discuss the importance of product development for the seafood industry, said AFDF. An announcement of the Seattle People’s Choice product as well as other promotional activities are also in the works to promote the Alaska competition during the PME event.

The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation will be collaborating with PME and SENA organizer Diversified Communications [which also operates SeafoodSource] to carry out both traditional and new promotions during both the Seattle and Boston events, it said. 

As far as basic logistics are concerned, the Alaska Symphony of Seafood will be conducted as it has in the past, AFDF said in a release.

“Product entries are individually evaluated in each category by a panel of expert judges during a private judging session,” explained AFDF. “Evaluations are based on the product’s packaging and presentation, overall eating experience, price and potential for commercial success. First-, second-, and third-place winners from each category are crowned, as well as an overall grand prize, Seattle People’s Choice and Juneau People’s Choice.”

Major sponsors for the Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition include: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Alaska Air Cargo, Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association, At-sea Processors Association, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, Alaskan Brewing Company, Marel, Northwest Fisheries Association, Kwik’Pak Fisheries LLC, Trident Seafoods, UniSea, and United Fishermen of Alaska.

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