Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafoods landed a contract worth nearly USD 800,000 (EUR 757,000) to supply canned pink salmon to federal food and nutrition programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the contract to Trident for 16,720 cases of canned salmon at USD 779,998 (EUR 738,000). Trident will deliver the salmon in November and December of this year.
In June, the USDA indicated it would make a large purchase of U.S. salmon, pollock, and other seafood products for the National School Lunch Program. The USDA's first solicitation asked companies to bid on a total of 47,120 cases of canned pink salmon and 957,920 pounds of frozen Alaska pollock.
The second solicitation sought bids on 11,700 cases of frozen pollock fillets, 900 cases of frozen haddock fillets, 3.7 million pounds of frozen salmon fillets, 53,100 cases of frozen Pacific rockfish fillets, 238,500 cases of frozen salad shrimp products, 50,400 cases of frozen Pacific whiting fillets, and 753,200 cases of canned red sammon.
The USDA has made several seafood purchases this year already, including salmon products and Alaska pollock.
Alaskan groups have been lobbying USDA to purchase more Alaska fish products. In September 2022, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) submitted requests to purchase Alaska sockeye salmon products – 5 million pounds of frozen fillets, 200,000 cases of tall cans, and 500,00 cases of half cans – as well as 50 million pounds of Alaska pollock products.
In March 2023, Alaska’s congressional delegation followed up with a letter restating ASMI’s request.
"Alaska suppliers are nearly finished with the first portion of their Alaska pollock season and need to market this massive harvest,” the delegation said. “Additionally, planning for the 2023 salmon season has begun while the record-breaking 2022 harvest is still being marketed. Millions of dollars are being spent and committed while waiting on the USDA to declare their need of Alaska seafood.”
Photo courtesy of Trident Seafoods
