USDA Releases Bids to Purchase Alaska Seafood
FABRIKAPHOTO | ENVATO
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released bids for purchasing Alaska seafood, supplying its food and nutrition programs while also providing a market outlet for a struggling industry.
Canned Salmon and Pollock Products
At the request of the seafood industry, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) initiated requests of the Secretary of Agriculture for assistance under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935. This program assists US agricultural food markets by purchasing commodities to relieve market surpluses.
The purchase consists of more than 1.4 million cases of canned Alaska pink salmon, 300,000 cases of canned Alaska sockeye salmon, and 15 million pounds of Alaska pollock fish sticks and fillets. Each case of salmon consists of twenty-four cans, regardless of size. All of the pink salmon will be in “tall” cans that contain 14.75 oz, and the sockeye salmon will be split between the 14.75 oz “talls” and the smaller 7.5 oz “halves.”
The salmon and pollock products are sourced domestically from Alaska fisheries. The purchase will be a boon for Alaskan fishermen, processors, and communities that faced challenging market conditions in 2023.
Bruce Schactler, ASMI’s global food aid program director, worked closely with USDA and the Alaska congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. throughout the process of economic review to gauge the industry’s need. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Representative Mary Peltola are credited with helping to secure approval from the Secretary of Agriculture, the arbiter of the program.
Making History
The track of oil and gas development in Alaska shows the footprints of bold companies and hard-working individuals who shaped the industry in the past and continue to innovate today. The May 2024 issue of Alaska Business explores that history while looking forward to new product development, the energy transition for the fishing fleet, and the ethics of AI tools in business.