May 19, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded more than USD 8.8 million (EUR 7.5 million) in U.S. salmon and walleye contracts.
Sitka, Alaska, U.S.A.-based Silver Bay Seafoods won the biggest share and will deliver USD 7.35 million (EUR 6.8 million) worth of canned pink salmon to several U.S. cities between July and December of this year as part of the USDA’s Child Nutrition Program and other domestic assistance programs.
May 15, 2024 — Louisiana crawfish producers suffering from drought conditions now have access to emergency financial relief, following requests from state officials and representatives for federal action.
Last year was a difficult one for Southern crawfish producers, with extreme heat and a subsequent freeze causing a sudden decrease in crawfish production. The Louisiana State University’s Agriculture Center estimated the potential losses from the extreme weather to be nearly USD 140 million [EUR 130 million].
April 30, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced new child nutrition standards for school meals that will likely benefit domestic seafood producers.
Under a new final rule published 25 April 2024, the USDA will allow schools to have greater flexibility with menu planning, an enhanced ability to purchase local seafood, and other standards that include reduced sugar and sodium. The standards will be gradually rolled out between the 2025 and 2027 school years.
April 11, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program updated its rules to include more seafood.
The program, which provides nutritious foods to more than six million women, infants, and children who are at risk of not getting enough nutritious food, will add six ounces of canned fish to food packages for all children up to four years of age, up from the previous rule of five ounces for children between two and four years old. The USDA is also now accepting canned light tuna and chub mackerel in addition to salmon, sardines, and Atlantic mackerel.
April 3, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to buy 5.7 million pounds of frozen Alaska pollock nuggets as well as 35,300 pounds of various frozen fish fillets.
The department released the solicitation 1 April 2024 and has set a due date of 15 April for all bids. The government said awards will be announced by 29 April.
February 20, 2024 — The Alaskan Congressional delegation of Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Mary Peltola, announced their support of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that it plans to purchase about $100 million of Alaska pink and sockeye salmon through Section 32 and the Commodity Credit Corporation.
“USDA’s Section 32 purchase announcement is great news for Alaska—almost $100 million of Alaskan seafood for people experiencing food insecurity. This purchase won’t just bolster Alaska’s seafood industry and support our coastal communities, but will help bring the highest-quality and healthiest seafood products in the world to families in need. I am grateful for the USDA’s investment in our fishermen and the health of Americans,” said Senator Murkowski.
February 13, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning to purchase 15.2 million pounds of Alaska pollock, along with 173,000 cases of canned salmon.
The USDA is asking suppliers to bid on 7.6 million pounds of frozen pollock fish sticks and 7.6 million pounds of frozen pollock fillets. Bids are due by 22 February.
February 8, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued contracts cumulatively worth USD 32.5 million (EUR 30 million) to several U.S. Gulf of Mexico wild shrimp suppliers.
After asking for bids in mid-January 2024, the USDA awarded the majority of the contracts for 385,000 cases of peeled and deveined shrimp to New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.-based Paul Piazza & Son for USD 15.1 million (EUR 14 million).
Janaury 22, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has partnered with the state government of Alaska on strengthening the supply chain of local and regional food systems.
Together, the USDA and Alaska are offering more than USD 1.9 million (EUR 1.7 million) in competitive infrastructure grants for projects that can “build resilience across the middle of the supply chain.”
January 22, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking U.S. shrimp suppliers to submit bids on 388,500 cases of shrimp by 29 January.
The winning suppliers will be required to deliver the frozen peeled and deveined shrimp between 16 March and 30 June.