The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) on Monday announced that it will hold the judging event and reception for the annual 19th Annual Alaska Symphony of Seafood new products contest in Seattle on 2 February. The gala and awards ceremony will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, on 10 February.
The event’s multiple locations give seafood promoters the opportunity to introduce new and innovative value-added seafood products from Alaska fisheries and gain exposure with industry and culinary experts, seafood distributors and national media. The overall goal is to inspire better use and innovation of Alaska’s natural seafood resources.
Participants are grouped into one of three categories: retail, foodservice or smoked products. Entries are then individually evaluated on packaging and presentation, overall eating experience, price and potential for commercial success by a panel of expert judges. After the private judging session, chefs, manufacturers, buyers, sellers and media are invited to vote in their favorite product at the Seattle reception for the Seattle People’s Choice Award, to be announced in Seattle.
The overall grand prize, first, second and third place winners of each category are kept confidential until the gala in Anchorage, where the Anchorage People’s Choice Award will be announced. First place winners from each category receive complimentary booth space at the International Boston Seafood Show in March, as well as free airfare to and from the show.
The deadline for contest entries is 6 January.
“We are proud to announce that we will be putting on the 19th Annual Alaska Symphony of Seafood this year in Seattle and Anchorage,” said Jim Browning, AFDF executive director. “We’ve had to rely on industry sponsorship to a much greater degree this year as grant funding has declined, and we’ve seen our regular sponsors increase their sponsorship level as well as new companies step up to support this popular and successful event featuring new Alaska seafood products.”
Last year’s winners included Trident Seafoods, American Pride Seafood, Orca Bay Foods, Wild Kenai Red Salmon and Wayne Carpenter’s Candysmoke.
