Thanks to a partnership with Local Ocean, two farmed fish species native to the Mediterranean are now available in the United States at Wegmans Food Markets.
Bronzini and orata from Local Ocean are raised in buildings on farmland near Albany, N.Y. The fish are raised in a completely enclosed ecosystem, where pure saltwater circulates constantly through filters that trap waste. Beneficial bacteria in the filters and hydroponically grown plants consume the waste, so there’s none to dispose of.
The fish have a semi-firm white meat with a sweet flavor profile similar to red snapper, and they are available year-round.
“We are truly excited about this,” said Carl Salamone, Wegmans’ VP of seafood. “It’s a big win for our customers and for the environment, every way you look at it. These fish are absolutely delicious. We can harvest them without depleting ocean fish populations, and the indoor ecosystem in which they grow is a model of environmental sustainability. And because they’re raised in the U.S. within a few hours from most Wegmans stores, less fuel is needed to bring the fish to market than when ordering from overseas.”
The Rochester, N.Y.-based retailer operates 78 supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Its first New England store opens in Northborough, Mass., this month.
