A La Carte Specialty Foods is bringing Pure Shrimp, which is certified as organic according to European Union standards, to the U.S. market.
The Westwego, Louisiana, U.S.A., firm, which is the exclusive distributor of Pure Shrimp, has traditionally focused supplying value-added seafood items such as breaded oyster. But the company saw an opportunity in bringing a unique organic shrimp to the United States market, Karl Turner, president and founder of A La Carte, told SeafoodSource.
“it is the only certified organic shrimp available in the U.S. market, which gives it a certain distinction,” Turner said.
However, since the United States Department of Agriculture doesn’t certify organic seafood and laws differ from state to state, Pure Shrimp must be labeled “All Natural” in Georgia and California.
The shrimp is supplied by farmed shrimp producer Rainbow Export in Costa Rica, and is raised with organic feed and without antibiotics and hormones. It is certified non-GMO and is Business Social Compliance Initiative-certified. In addition, no food processing agents such as phosphates are used in its production.
While some other premium farmed shrimp brands are shipped fresh to customers, Pure Shrimp is flash frozen and packaged in two-pound plastic bags for foodservice and retail.
A La Carte is first targeting U.S. supermarket chains, which can sell the product frozen or in their fresh case.
“Retailers are welcoming this with open arms and ask, ‘where has this been?’” Paul Lingenfelter, business development manager at A La Carte, told SeafoodSource.
Retailers can sell the organic shrimp for USD 12.99 (EUR 11.65) to USD 13.99 (EUR 12.55) per pound and still achieve a healthy profit margin, Lingenfelter said.
Rainbow’s low-density ponds stock only 10 to 15 shrimp per square meter and are The ponds are drained and sun-dried to fallow between generations. Pure Shrimp also has “full traceability from the hatchery to pond to farm to the plate,” Lingenfelter said.
Separately, A La Carte is rolling out a premium farmed shrimp cake to foodservice customers. Its Shrimp Royale Cakes and Shrimp Royale Poppers, made with 3-star BAP-certfied vannamei shrimp, are hand-made in North Carolina with both whole and minced shrimp, along with mayonnaise, shallots, garlic, butter, and herbs.
“Everyone has a crab cake; these are a one-of kind-shrimp cake,” Lingenfelter said.
Photo courtesy of A La Carte Specialty Foods
