Demand for fresh blue mussels remains steady, while frozen mussel meat demand is inching higher.
“Supplies of both Maine wild mussels and Prince Edward Island rope-grown mussels are adequate, enough to keep up with demand. There were not that many closures this year for Maine wild mussels, so it was a good season,” said one Northeast mussel wholesaler.
As a result of steady supplies and slightly higher demand, pricing has also been steady. PEI rope-grown mussels are selling for an average of USD 1.40 a pound, f.o.b. Boston, while live mussels from Maine and New York are going for an average of USD 1 a pound.
“Prices have stayed steady for the last couple of summers,” said the wholesaler.
Blue mussel demand is slightly higher than last year, according to U.S. suppliers. “Mussel sales have been up a little bit; they are a cheaper item. People are still going out to eat, but instead of getting a lobster tail, they may get a mussel appetizer,” said another wholesaler.
Sales of frozen blue mussel meat, priced at around USD 1.35 a pound wholesale, have been higher in recent months, according to one wholesaler. “Sales are picking up. Our mussel meat goes into seafood salads, and people are thinking about grilled items,” said the wholesaler.
This is a slower season for imports of mussels from Chile — it is their winter season — which is helping to boost sales of domestic product.
Still, both U.S. mussel imports and exports declined in the first half of this year, according to National Marine Fisheries Services data. Imports of live wild mussels (all types) plummeted from 1.8 million pounds valued at USD 2.58 million from January through July 2009, to 1 million pounds valued at USD 1.33 million through July. Imports of frozen, dried, salted and brined mussels through July fell 12 percent, to 16.9 million pounds worth USD 21.87 million.
Imports of fresh farmed mussels through July, however, increased 19.3 percent to 16.4 million pounds, compared to the same period in 2009. Exports of fresh farmed mussels, meanwhile, fell 33 percent to 128,971 pounds, according to NMFS.
U.S. exports of fresh wild mussels through July declined 15.9 percent to just 311,879 pounds. Exports of frozen, dried, salted and brine mussels increased 16.9 percent, to 260,764 pounds over the same time period.
Meanwhile, blue mussel sales should remain strong through early next year.
“Around Christmas and New Year’s, you get a good spike in mussel sales,” said the Northeast wholesaler. “Supply also looks good coming into next year’s crop, and I don’t anticipate any shortages.”
