Target on Tuesday announced it eliminated all farmed salmon from its fresh, frozen and smoked seafood offerings in its 1,744 stores in 49 U.S. states.
The United States’ No. 2 discount retailer said it will now sell only wild Alaska salmon.
The commitment includes Target’s private labels, Archer Farms® and Market Pantry®, and national brands. Sushi containing farmed salmon will complete the transition to wild salmon by the end of 2010.
The Minneapolis-based company consulted with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to make its decision to remove farmed salmon from its shelves. The aquarium’s Seafood Watch program advises consumers to “avoid” eating farmed salmon, except U.S. farmed coho salmon raised in a closed-containment system, in its seafood-buying guide.
Target called the decision an “important step” to ensure that the salmon its sells is from a sustainable, environmentally friendly source.
“Target strives to be a responsible steward of the environment, while also providing our guests with the highest-quality food choices,” said Greg Duppler, Target’s senior VP of merchandising. “Our guests now have an array of sustainable seafood choices at great prices.”
“Target’s decision to source sustainable wild-caught salmon, instead of farmed, will have a real impact in the marketplace and, ultimately, on the health of our oceans,” added Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
A number of Target salmon offerings carry the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label, including wild Alaskan salmon fillets, Archer Farms Frozen Sockeye Salmon Fillets and Market Pantry Frozen Keta Salmon Fillets.
The retailer also sells Archer Farms Smoked Sockeye Salmon, Archer Farms Hot Smoked Pepper Salmon, Archer Farms Cajun Smoked Sockeye Salmon, Market Pantry Crab Stuffed Salmon Roulade, Market Pantry Florentine Salmon Roulade and Market Pantry Keta Salmon Side.
