An analysis of U.S. markets conducted by the Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP) suggests that Americans are consuming more pollock and are choosing domestically-caught fish, according to a press release from the organization.
The analysis suggests that American consumption of pollock, both imported and domestic, increased by 38 percent to nearly a pound per person last year – a level of consumption not recorded since 2016. Moreover, the majority of the fish consumed (approximately 59 percent) is U.S.-caught and -produced wild Alaskan pollock, GAPP found. The report attributes this to a rise in domestic pollock fillet production – 190,000 metric tons total, compared to 180,000 metric tons the year before – and a decrease in pollock exports. This level of domestic consumption is the highest GAPP has seen since it began collecting data in 2006.
“Simply put, in one year’s time the industry has erased the entire decline in U.S. wild Alaska pollock fillet consumption it experienced from 2012 to 2018,” GAPP Chief Executive Officer Craig Morris said. “Clearly, the investment the industry has made to build awareness and a common brand around Wild Alaska Pollock in the U.S. market is paying significant dividends.”
“I think this news further reflects the industry’s commitment to partnering with our downstream customers to invest in innovation and put wild Alaska pollock in front of more consumers in more ways every single day,” Morris added. “Now is the time to double-down and work to make wild Alaska pollock a household name in our own backyard.”
This year, GAPP plans to expand promotion of domestic product in the American market with its flagship North American Partnership program. The organization also plans to focus on surimi, according to its recent press release. Last year, Americans consumed 4,000 metric tons more surimi than they did the year before, even though U.S. production decreased by 7,000 metric tons.
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