May 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to purchase up to 470,000 pounds of catfish and 1.2 million pounds of Alaska pollock for use in domestic food distribution programs.
The Alaska pollock will be used for the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. The department is looking for both frozen Alaska pollock fillets and fish sticks, with bids due 17 May. The USDA will announce the contract awards by midnight on 23 May.
May 10, 2023 — There’s relief among South Coast fishing communities following the announcement of the United State Department of Agriculture’s purchase of $52 million in Oregon seafood products.
“Before, somebody would think whether or not they should or can afford hiring a crewman. Maybe now they can actually say, ‘Okay, I actually know that we need to deliver these orders,” said Yelena Nowak, Executive Director of the Oregon Trawl Commission. “And I think processors will be in the same position. They know that they need labor. There’s no uncertainty about it.”
The USDA program traditionally purchases surplus food products from vendors for food assistance programs, but seafood is moving higher on the food list.
May 9, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to purchase USD 119.5 million (EUR 109 million) worth of Alaskan sockeye salmon and Pacific groundfish for federal food assistance programs, according to Alaska’s congressional delegation.
“USDA’s purchase of Alaska seafood is great news for our fishing industry and all who depend on federal food assistance,” U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said in a statement. “Alaskan fishermen stand ready to help feed their communities, and these purchases provide them the perfect opportunity to bring healthy Alaskan seafood to the tables of families who need it most.”
May 8, 2023 — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Mary Peltola Friday applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that it has approved the purchase of up to $119.5 million worth of Alaskan Sockeye and Pacific Groundfish, which will be distributed across the country through federal food assistance programs.
“USDA’s purchase of Alaska seafood is great news for our fishing industry and all who depend on federal food assistance,” said Senator Murkowski. “Alaskan fishermen stand ready to help feed their communities, and these purchases provide them the perfect opportunity to bring healthy Alaskan seafood to the tables of families who need it most.”
March 23, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a report outlining how it plans to continue keeping the country’s seafood imports safe.
The report, “Activities for the Safety of Imported Seafood,” released in late February 2023, explains how the FDA is building upon the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and the FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food to accomplish its goals for imported seafood. In its report, the FDA acknowledged that the seafood supply chain one of the most-complicated it deals with. Further complicating its job is the fact that a vast majority of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported.
March 20, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is buying pollock, haddock, and ocean perch fillets worth USD 28.8 million (EUR 26.8 million) in its latest round of purchases for its child nutrition and domestic food assistance programs.
The purchase, split between two providers – New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Blue Harvest and New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Pier Fish, fulfills part of the USDA’s promise to purchase U.S. East Coast seafood for food bank donations.
March 2, 2023 — A bipartisan effort is underway to provide relief to local fishermen, seafood processors, and those facing food insecurity across the country.
Last month, lawmakers including Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting the purchase of West Coast seafood products for the USDA’s Section 32 program.
Section 32 began in 1935, purchasing surplus food products from farms and fisheries to go to food assistance programs and the National School Lunch Program.
February 24, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has simplified the process for USDA food vendor approval by eliminating a participation barrier, it announced.
The Agricultural Marketing Service’s Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) has altered its financial assessment responsibility for interested suppliers to the USDA in order to reduce barriers to the program, the USDA said.
February 14, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will buy Atlantic haddock, pollock, and perch from domestic fisheries on the U.S. East Coast to supply food banks.
The purchase comes as part of a USD 1 billion (EUR 937 million) plan to supply emergency food providers through the U.S. Commodity Credit Corporation, according to a statement from U.S. Senator Edward Markey, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, all Democrats representing the U.S. state of Massachusetts.
January 19, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is continuing its purchase of U.S. seafood products this year, awarding salmon contracts worth more than USD 8 million (EUR 7.4 million) in early January 2023.
Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based OBI Seafoods will supply the USDA with nearly USD 6.4 million (EUR 6.9 million) in canned pink salmon and frozen salmon fillets, while Sitka, Alaska, U.S.A.-based Silver Bay Seafoods will supply nearly USD 1.7 million (EUR 1.6 million) the USDA said in a notice.