To celebrate National Seafood Month, Giant Foods is increasing its seafood transparency, Phillips Seafood is promoting a giveaway via social media, and Washington state is promoting direct-to-consumer seafood initiatives.
Washington, District of Columbia-based Giant Foods joined the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP), a global platform where retailers voluntarily share insight into their sourcing methods to ensure sustainable seafood practices.
The retailer is enlisting ODP to make the original sources of all its own brand of wild-caught seafood transparent and available to the public.
"We want shoppers to be able to trust that when they purchase any seafood product from Giant, that it is coming from a verified source," Giant Food President Ira Kress said in a press release. "Participating in the ODP represents our assurance to total transparency and being able to offer products that are in line with our commitment to sustainable sourcing throughout every department of the store."
Giant is also a partner of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), which ensures that all seafood that enters stores is vetted against the specific criteria in Giant's sustainable seafood policy.
Meanwhile, Baltimore, Maryland-based Phillips Seafood is running a social media giveaway for the month of October. Until 31 October, consumers can enter to win free seafood for a year at their favorite Phillips Seafood restaurant or a year of Phillips’ grocery products.
FultonFishMarket.com is touting its subscription box, “The Fish Drop,” as a gift idea for National Seafood Month.
“With endless options of fish and other types of seafood hand-picked by our Fulton Fish Market experts, customers can have fresh, delicious seafood delivered right to their doorstep,” the company said in a statement to SeafoodSource.
And, due to reduced demand for seafood via foodservice channels, Washington state is taking several steps to highlight seafood during the month of October.
Washington Sea Grant and the Washington departments of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Agriculture (WSDA) are showcasing programs for consumers to directly connect with fishermen and seafood suppliers.
“With salmon, rockfish, shrimp, and albacore tuna in season right now, Seafood Month comes at a great time to celebrate just how easy to is to enjoy these amazing Pacific Northwest foods,” Larry Phillips, coastal region director with WDFW, said in a press release. “Enjoying Washington seafood this month – and all year long – is a choice that consumers can feel good about, as the state uses strict science-based oversight to keep sustainable seafood on the menu and your table for years to come.”
For example, the City of Westport and the Port of Grays Harbor have teamed up to launch Westport’s Fresh Catch, a marketing effort to help visitors connect directly with local fisherman coming off the docks or restaurants serving the seasonal catch.
In Bellingham, Washington, fishermen, port officials, the Working Waterfront Coalition, and Bellingham SeaFeast are working to expand access to fisher-direct sales fresh from the boat.
“The Port recognizes that our local commercial fishermen are navigating new challenges at the same time consumers are shifting to respond to changing economic circumstances,” Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix said. “We want to welcome people to our harbor with these direct seafood sales and see people leaving the dock with their locally sourced dinner in hand.”
Photo courtesy of FultonFishMarket.com
