Saving Seafood

USDA to purchase 405,000 pounds of wild salmon, awards catfish contracts

December 14, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is inviting companies to bid on contracts to supply 405,000 pounds of wild salmon, in a continuation of the department’s support for the Pacific Northwest commercial salmon fishery. The announcement comes soon after the agency awarded more than USD 2 million (EUR 1.85 million) in contracts to supply domestic catfish. 

The USDA wants to purchase 252,000 pounds of wild frozen salmon fillets and 153,520 cases of wild canned pink salmon for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.  

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USDA buying more pollock, awards walleye contract

December 12, 2023 — After a significant pollock purchase of USD 1.75 million (EUR 1.6 million) in November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking to buy more wild Alaska pollock with a deadline to receive bids of 13 December.

Simultaneously, the agency awarded a significant walleye contract worth more than USD 1.4 million (EUR 1.3 million).

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Channel Fish, Trident split USD 1.75 million pollock award

December 5, 2023 — Channel Fish Processing and Trident Seafoods split USD 1.75 (EUR 1.6 million) in Alaska pollock contracts awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on 1 December.

Braintree, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Channel Fish will supply USD 988,559 (EUR 913,854) worth of frozen pollock sticks, while Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident will supply bulk surimi worth USD 759,924 (EUR 702,497).

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USDA reissues solicitation for 108,000 pounds of walleye

December 2, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reissued a solicitation for 108,000 pounds of walleye fillets after receiving zero bids on an identical solicitation earlier this year.

The walleye fillets are for distribution to Idaho and Missouri via the National School Lunch Program and other federal food assistance programs, according to the government’s notice. The deadline for offers is 7 December, with any contracts announced by 14 December. If a contract is awarded, the walleye fillets need to be delivered between 16 January and 29 February 2024. A third of the fillets will go to Idaho, while the remainder will go to Missouri.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US House, Senate jousting over FDA, NOAA funding

November 3, 2023 — The U.S. Senate passed a package of appropriations bills in late October that included funding for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The legislation includes key provisions for the domestic seafood industry and brings Congress one step closer to providing funding for fiscal-year 2024 and avoiding a government shutdown. Congress agreed to a last-minute deal in September to avert a partial shutdown, but that agreement expires 17 November.

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MAINE: USDA, US state of Maine sign cooperative agreement expanding nutritional options in school meals

October 19, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has signed a USD 776,210 (EUR 733,970) cooperative agreement with the U.S. state of Maine to fund school-issued meal programs.

Funds for the programs will go toward purchasing nutritious, local foods to boost student health and build new relationships between schools and local farmers, the USDA stated in a release on 26 September.

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Industry groups rally around seafood provisions in US Farm Bill

September 27, 2023 — Industry groups representing the commercial seafood sector are rallying support for several provisions to the Farm Bill that would elevate seafood’s profile within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Trade groups, including the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the Seafood Harvesters of America (SHA), the Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA), and the At-Sea Processors Association (APA), as well as seafood processors Pacific Seafoods and Trident Seafoods, circulated a sign-on letter earlier in September encouraging Congress to adopt the legislation.

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USDA invests USD 13 million in four seafood innovation projects

September 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested in four seafood innovation projects as part of USD 13 million (EUR 12 million) in small business research and technology grants announced last month.

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to investing, growing and supporting small businesses through increased market opportunities that also strengthen the food system nationally and locally,” USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Chavonda Jacobs-Young said. “Science-based innovations from federally funded research, often developed through public-private partnerships, create products and services that increase productivity and enhance global competitiveness for the U.S. agriculture sector.”

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US lawmakers want to make sure aquaculture gets equal treatment by USDA

August 4, 2023 — A group of U.S. lawmakers are continuing their campaign to ensure the aquaculture industry is getting adequate support and fair treatment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Last week, U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) introduced the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act, which would require the USDA to ensure it provides “fair funding levels” to aquaculture producers in its program. The USDA, Pallone claimed, devotes a disproportionate percentage of its program funding to animal agriculture.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource