Seafood Business articles from June 2008

Seafood Business archives from June 2008

Redefining sustainability.(Editor's Note)
June 1, 2008... I didn't realize until I attended last month's Cooking for Solutions seminar at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Calif., that I had a pretty narrow definition of sustainability. Up until now my take on it has been if you take too much...

Shrimp labor abuse accusations refuted: GAA among groups that question Solidarity Center report.(processing)(Global Aquaculture Alliance)
June 1, 2008... Bangladeshi, Thai and U.S. officials dispute the findings of a 40-page Solidarity Center report documenting extensive labor abuse in Southeast Asia's shrimp industry. Released in late April, "The True Cost of Shrimp" claims shrimp-processing...

Times corrects farmed salmon article: ISA virus causes first-quarter loss for Marine Harvest.(supply)(Financial report)
June 1, 2008... The New York Times in mid-May printed a correction for its March 27 article about infectious salmon anemia (ISA) and the environmental and food-safety impacts of Chile's farmed salmon industry. In the article, the Times quoted Adolfo...

WTO shrimp bond ruling appealed: final decision expected this summer.(trade)
June 1, 2008... The World Trade Organization is due to rule this summer whether the U.S. practice of collecting cash deposits in the form of bonds from Indian and Thai shrimp exporters subject to antidumping tariffs violates international trade law. The...

Icicle Seafoods.(Biz BRIEFS)
June 1, 2008... Icicle Seafoods announced it wilt acquire Smoki Foods of Seattle. The deal includes Smoki subsidiaries, salmon-farming company American Gold Seafoods and the Cypress Island Seafoods processing plant.

Phillips Seafood Restaurants.(Biz BRIEFS)
June 1, 2008... Phillips Seafood Restaurants opened a new location at the Legacy Hotel & Meeting Centre in Rockville, Md. The new location marks the launch of a partnership between Phillips and the Cohen Cos., owners of the Legacy Hotel.

Shaw's Crab House.(Biz BRIEFS)
June 1, 2008... Shaw's Crab House customers can now mail order Alaska red king crab from the Bering Sea. The crab legs are packaged in a thermal cooler and include handling and cooking instructions, cooking tongs, bibs and napkins.

Slade Gorton & Co.(Biz BRIEFS)
June 1, 2008... Slade Gorton & Co. closed its frozen-seafood warehouse at its Boston headquarters and outsourced its cold-storage operations to Preferred Freezer Services.

Mark's Las Olas.(Biz BRIEFS)
June 1, 2008... Mark's Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., owned by Chef Mark Militello, unexpectedly dosed its doors in May. No explanation for the closure was given.

Farm Bill snafu puts salmon aid in limbo: National Fisheries Institute: USDA shouldn't inspect seafood.(legal)
June 1, 2008... Congress in mid-May passed a final version of the Farm Bill that included $170 million in aid for families and businesses affected by closures to Pacific Northwest commercial salmon fisheries. At press time, President Bush had vetoed the...

Green groups unite on sustainability: 'Common Vision' guides fish purchasing policies.(supply)
June 1, 2008... Fourteen U.S. and Canadian conservation groups in early May partnered to form the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions and release a set of recommendations, dubbed "Common Vision for Environmentally Sustainable Seafood," to help...

Offshore aquaculture faces hurdles: GAO report cites need for clear regulatory framework.(aquaculture)
June 1, 2008... A report released by the Government Accountability Office in early May warns that significant challenges still exist in developing an environmentally friendly and economically viable U.S. offshore aquaculture industry. The report, which...

Kona Kampachi[R].(Line ITEMS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Kona Kampachi[R] earned a "Good Alternative" rating by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program. Kona Blue Water Farms worked with Seafood Watch to meet its environmental impact and feed efficiency criteria. With the MBA and the...

Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.(Line ITEMS)
June 1, 2008... After nearly 50 years on the menu, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas finally raised the price of its popular 99-cent shrimp cocktail special. The appetizer's price is now $1.99. Food and Beverage Director Michael Storm attributed...

Sugartown Smoked Specialties.(Line ITEMS)
June 1, 2008... Natural Smoked Tasmanian Trout from Sugartown Smoked Specialties of West Chester, Pa., captured the grand prize in the outstanding fish and seafood category at the third annual 2008 Gallo Family Vineyards Gold Medal Awards in late April.

ESE panelists: sustainability is the future: harmonization of certification standards emphasized.(supply)(Discussion)
June 1, 2008... The sustainable seafood movement is still in the very early stages of development, but the industry is collaborating with non-governmental organizations to harmonize certification standards for both wild fisheries and aquaculture, said...

Salmon swims away with Prix d'Elite: Stuehrk, Royal Greenland take top honors.(competition)
June 1, 2008... Stuehrk Delikatessen Import GmbH & Co. of Germany and Royal Greenland of Denmark emerged from a field of 40 finalists to capture the gold at the eighth annual Seafood Prix d'Elite new products competition at the European Seafood Exposition in...

MBA panelists debate aquaculture: Cooking for Solutions focuses on sustainability.(aquaculture)(Discussion)
June 1, 2008... Aquaculture remains a point of concern for chefs, retailers and scientists who took part in a panel discussion at last month's Cooking for Solutions seminar at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, Calif. The debate centered on how to deal...

The hunt for ethical seafood.(Off THE SHELF)
June 1, 2008... After conducting a nine-month worldwide tour in which he met with fishermen, chefs, non governmental organizations and other industry insiders, Taras Grescoe lends his knowledge to readers in "Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of...

Industry, consumers need stronger FDA.(One Man's Opinion)(Food and Drug Administration)
June 1, 2008... The latest in a long line of alarmist media expos& about the sad state of the safety of our seafood supply was filed by the St. Louis Post Dispatch this May under the headline The World is Sending Us Their Junk. The piece reinforced the...

Bangladesh shrimp industry mindful of labor laws.(Point of View)
June 1, 2008... The Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF) has long worked with the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries and Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) to guide the shrimp industry and export-related associations in carefully...

Appreciating baht, rupee hinder U.S. shrimp supply: first quarter shrimp imports drop for first time in three years.(shrimp)
June 1, 2008... U.S. shrimp imports fell in the first quarter of 2008 for the first time since 2005, when they tumbled nearly 25 percent due to enactment of U.S. anti-dumping tariffs. But through this March, shrimp imports dipped only 1.9 percent, to...

King salmon prices flying high: Alaska expects above-average chinook harvest this year.(salmon)
June 1, 2008... The wait is finally over. The Copper River salmon fishery kicked off May 15, signifying the unofficial start of Alaska's summer salmon season. And, for Copper River fishermen, it was a wet and windy start. Driving rains, 50-knot winds and...

Striper season starts slow: prices high for niche fish.(FOCUS)(striped bass fisheries)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Only seven states boast commercial striped bass fisheries, which makes the species difficult to obtain. A niche product, stripers are never seen as a menu staple, but are often featured on "fresh daily" menus. ...

Shortage drives up pollock prices: despite weak U.S. dollar, exports to Japan, Europe decline.(whitefish)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Wholesale pollock prices were expected to jump when Alaska's 2008 quota was cut by a dramatic 28 percent last December. Because the enormous annual resource is measured in billions of pounds, a price increase of just a nickel per pound can...

Lobster supplies tight for summer stretch: imports from Canada down 16 percent; prices stable for now.(shellfish)
June 1, 2008... Buyers beware: This could be one strange summer for sourcing lobsters. Because of rising fuel and bait costs, many East Coast lobstermen may only fish sporadically, if at all. Maine's fishing season began in May, but most lobstermen...

Crustaceans are seafood counter king: lion's share of shellfish sales attributed to lobster, shrimp, crab, crawfish.(crustaceans)
June 1, 2008... Shellfish is the largest category in the seafood department, accounting for 46.9 percent of seafood department sales during the 52 weeks ending on Feb. 23. The majority of shellfish sales come from crustaceans--shrimp, crabs, crawfish/crayfish...

Belt-tightening time: foodservice, retail operators on guard as consumer confidence wanes.(Top Story)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the spring thaw set in, the embattled U.S. economy--and consumer confidence in it--remained as cold as the winter snow. Recession fears had grown from whispers on Wall Street to dinner table conversation....

Insurance update: pay attention to the fine print when it comes to any insurance coverage, experts advise.(Processing & Services)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a business is affected by accidents or disasters, insurance can make the difference between survival and insolvency. There are many forms of insurance available, but the key to protecting a company's assets is...

Catfish: U.S. farmers, processors struggle, importers defend Chinese product.(Top 10 Species)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While the domestic catfish industry toils in the short term with high feed and fuel costs, steady supply and demand is expected. High fuel prices had a "tremendously negative" affect on the cost of production,...

Praying for a visa answer: processors, restaurants anticipate drastic changes if H2B visa limit isn't changed.(Trend Watch)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many U.S. seafood processors rely on seasonal labor to get them through the busy season, and H2B visas have allowed businesses to hire workers from overseas. Americans are increasingly shunning short-term,...

Competition crunch: Jensen's makes fresh fish work in the desert.(Case Study)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When retail prices for Copper River salmon topped $20 per pound in 2003, Frank Dorame learned an important lesson about his customers. The meat and seafood buyer at Jensen's Fine Foods in Palm Desert, Calif., worried...

Fish shanty goes upscale: owner Petersiel transforms Red Rock Bistro from dive to destination.(In the Kitchen)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Paul Petersiel loves fish. "Of any protein, I think fish presents the most opportunity to do something really interesting on the menu." Indeed, fish--everything from traditional fried clams and lobster rolls to...

Soups chowders, bisques: retail push helps increase category sales.(Product Spotlight)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With fuel prices setting new records week after week, dining out is becoming a luxury many can't afford. More and more consumers are skipping restaurants in favor of recreating their favorite meals at home. However,...

Phillips Foods.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Aden King, Phillips Foods & Seafood Restaurants VP of special projects and government affairs, has been selected for the Leadership Maryland Class of 2008. Leadership Maryland is an independent, educational,...

Global Aquaculture Alliance.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... The Global Aquaculture Alliance named three directors to its 12-member board. Joining the board are John Peppel, a senior VP for animal nutrition at Cargill, who replaces Cargill's Manuel Santana; Erwin Sutanto, operations director for shrimp...

Southstream Seafoods.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ken Cairns is the latest addition to Southstream Seafoods' sales team. Cairns has more than 20 years of experience in food distribution and sales. He previously spent three years in the catfish industry selling both...

Oceanaire Seafood Room.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... The Oceanaire Seafood Room announced that Chef Ryan Nelson was selected by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute as one of 13 chefs from around the country to form the Wild Alaska Seafood Congress of Conscious Chefs. Nelson is the chef at the...

Inland Seafood.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Inland Seafood named Steve Musser VP of national sales. Musser works for Inland Market Premium Foods, a wholly owned Inland subsidiary that produces restaurant-quality gourmet foods created by Certified Master Chef...

Harvest Select Catfish.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... Harvest Select Catfish appointed Randy Rhodes president. A veteran of the catfish and seafood processing industry, Rhodes previously worked as president of national sales and marketing for Inland Seafood of Atlanta and as VP of sales and...

Port Clyde Lobster.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Petersdorf was hired as VP and GM of Port Clyde Lobster and its adjunct companies, including Port Clyde Shrimp in Port Clyde, Maine. Petersdorf has more than 14 years of industry experience, including the GM...

Shells Seafood Restaurants.(People in the News)
June 1, 2008... Shells Seafood Restaurants named Mark Bernstein CEO. He previously served as director of operations at Dallas BBQ, and prior to that he was the owner and operator of several restaurant concepts in New York.

In memoriam.(People in the News)(Ross Clouston)(In memoriam)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... In March, Ross Clouston, former president and chairman of Gorton's of Gloucester, Mass., died at the age of 85 after a long battle with cancer. Serving as president from 1968 to 1986, Clouston helped broaden Gorton's product line by doubling...

Bio-box.(PACKAGING)(GoGreen Box )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The GoGreen Box from Packaging Products Corp. is a 100 percent recyclable seafood box specially coated to achieve the water-resistant characteristics of wax boxes. The seafood boxes provide packers and sup pliers with an environmentally...

Shrink wrap.(PACKAGING)(Carroll Manufacturing and Sales' Flavorseal Bone Guard Shrink Bags )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... With a proprietary bone guard structure designed to prevent punctures, Carroll Manufacturing and Sales' Flavorseal [TM] Bone Guard Shrink Bags offer value and high-abuse performance for seafood and bone-in, fresh, cooked and processed meats....

Tightly packed.(PACKAGING)(Multivac reclosable thermoform )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Multivac's reclosable thermoform packaging is formed from semi-rigid top and bottom films and the design features a top web formed with a deep, angled recess that snaps into the bottom web to tightly close the package and help maintain product...

Bingo!(PACKAGING)(Weighpack Bingo Bagger)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The Bingo Bagger from Weighpack System is an automatic horizontal bagging machine. Using a stationary sealing head, the bagger is designed for premade wicket bags of either laminate or polyethylene materials. The system has both vacuum and gas...

Farmed fillets.(VALUE ADDED)(Australis )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Australis has added packaged frozen barramundi and basa fillets to its seafood line. The farmed basa fillets are offered in 10-pound bulk cases, 12-ounce case-ready packages or 14-ounce stand-up bags. Australis also launched retail and...

Taste of Japan.(VALUE ADDED)(Ocean Rim Japan's Sea Bream and Yellowtail )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Ocean Rim Japan introduces three premium sushi-quality frozen fish fillets. Choose from fresh-frozen Sea Bream and Yellowtail fillets, or frozen Smoked Sea Bream fillets. Each is produced under strict quality standards and packaged in...

Frost free.(VALUE ADDED)(Southstream Seafoods Frostmark )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The Frostmark 100 percent Net Weight brand from Southstream Seafoods is now available in wild Atlantic cod, haddock and sunfish hand-cut fillets for retail and foodservice. The brand benefits include 100 percent net weight guaranteed, capacity...

Crab to go.(VALUE ADDED)
June 1, 2008... Crab Kingdom now produces premium pasteurized king crab meat. The product is fully cooked, ready to eat and has a 12-month shelf-life. The meat is available in 3.8-, 4.2-, 7- and 8-ounce containers. Contact Crab Kingdom at (425) 828-6500 or...

Healthy heart.(VALUE ADDED)(Trident Seafoods' Heart Smart )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Trident Seafoods' line of Heart Smart breaded fish portions are cut from Alaskan pollock and have less than 3 grams of fat. Designed as bake-only portions for conventional or convection ovens, the fish never touch hot oil. Packed in 10-pound...

Seafood calendar.(Calendar)
June 1, 2008... JUNE June 16-18 Food Marketing Institute's Sustainability Summit Hyatt Regency Minneapolis (202) 220-0824 www.fmi.org June 29-July 1 54th Summer Fancy Food Show Jacob K. Javits Center New...

Vanessa Abramowitz.(One on One)(Shrimp Market )(Interview)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's impossible to recite the menu at the Shrimp Market without sounding like Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue from "Forrest Gump"--Cadillac Shrimp Cocktail, Shrimp Caesar Salad, Popcorn Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Three...