U.S. supermarket chain Hy-Vee’s recent commitment to Fair Trade wild salmon is the latest in the grocer’s efforts to grow its sustainable seafood sales.
The West Des Moines, Iowa-based operator of 245 supermarkets began carrying Fair Trade Certified Wildfish Salmon in mid-May. It already sells Fair Trade Certified tuna and scallops.
The chain began developing its sustainable, “responsible” seafood sourcing policy in 2012. A year ago, Hy-Vee announced 100 percent of its sushi would be sourced from fish caught in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
“Hy-Vee continues to work hard to provide our customers with the best quality seafood that comes from excellent sources,” said Nate Stewart, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of perishables, in a press release. “Sourcing Wildfish Salmon on Fair Trade terms gives our customers confidence that the salmon they enjoy from Hy-Vee is sourced responsibly, improving lives and protecting the environment.”
Stewart said with its move, Hy-Vee aimed to support remote Alaskan fishing communities like Dillingham, Manokotak, and Ekuk, which have “sustainably harvested their catch from the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay for more than 1,000 years.”
“Salmon fishing continues to be a vital part of their livelihoods and culture. Though economic opportunities in the villages are often limited, the associated premium from the sale of Fair Trade Certified salmon has the potential to create significant impact in these communities,” the retailer said.
In addition to offering Fair Trade Certified salmon, Hy-Vee has committed to sourcing shelf-stable tuna from fisheries that are (in order of preference) either certified by the Marine Stewardship Council with supply chain traceability (Chain of Custody); rated either green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program; or engaged in fishery improvement projects making measurable and time-bound progress, Hy-Vee said.
