Federal Purchases of US Seafood Products Have Increased More Than Five-Fold Over Past Decade

U.S. government purchases of seafood products have risen significantly since 2016, when about $70 million worth of salmon, catfish, and shrimp was purchased by the government for various federal food programs. In 2023, that total was $345 million, just under a five-fold increase in seven years. Estimates for 2024 show even more increases, currently predicted to be just over $360 million.

Purchases of fish and seafood also comprise a growing share of USDA purchases, up from 2% of procured foods...

GAPP Gets USDA Funds for 2025 Trade Missions, Seeks New Round of Partnership Proposals

The Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP), a group focused on marketing and researching Alaska's pollock industry, has been rather active lately, between its receipt of federal funds for exploring emerging markets and the release of its most recent round of Partnership Program funding, for which proposals are now being accepted.

Exploring emerging markets in South America and Asia

Last week, GAPP announced its receipt of federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS) Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to explore emerging markets...

Texas Food Importer L&V Food Supply Recalls Over 1,150 Pounds of Dried Vietnamese Catfish

On February 25, 2025, C&T Produce Wholesale Inc. (doing business as L&V Food Supply) issued a recall for approximately 1,152 pounds of peppered frozen and dried catfish products imported from Vietnam into the U.S.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the fish products were produced by an establishment in Vietnam that is not eligible to export catfish to the U.S. As such, the products were not presented for import reinspection into the U.S...

Over 21 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock Among USDA’s Latest Seafood Purchase Requests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking bids on various seafood products, including catfish, shrimp, and Alaskan pollock, through Section 32.

The USDA stated that the products, announced in three separate solicitations, will be used in domestic food distribution programs. Bids are due by February 27, and acceptances will be announced on March 6. The largest purchase is focused on Alaskan pollock, with the USDA looking for bids on over 21 million pounds of product. The offerings range from frozen pollock fillets...

USDA’s Section 32 Program Agrees to Purchase up to $55M in Farm-Raised Catfish and Gulf Shrimp

Catfish and shrimp producers in the southern U.S. will soon benefit from a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchase agreement involving the procurement of up to $30 million in farm-raised catfish products and $25 million in Gulf shrimp for distribution to various nutrition assistance programs.

The $55 million seafood purchase agreement—allowed through the permanently authorized Section 32 Program—follows two USDA purchase agreements from 2024 for up to $36 million in Gulf of Mexico and...

Nail Factory Recalls Ineligible Frozen Catfish Products from Vietnam

On December 19, 2024, California-based NAIL Factory issued a recall of approximately 1,635 pounds of catfish products imported from Vietnam.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the products were produced in a Vietnamese facility that was ineligible to export pangasius fish to the U.S.

In addition, the products were not presented for import reinspection and bear an FDA registration number in place of an establishment number or USDA mark of inspection. The FDA does not regulate catfish products...

US Unveils First Updated National Aquaculture Development Plan in 40 Years

The National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Aquaculture just finalized the draft Overview of the National Aquaculture Development Plan, which creates a holistic framework for how federal agencies should advance aquaculture contributions for the purpose of public health and nutrition, more resilient communities, a stronger economy, and a healthier planet overall.

The plan, which was released earlier this year for public comment for the first time since 1983, is comprised of three strategic plans: the Strategic Plan to Enhance Regulatory Efficiency in Aquaculture; the National Strategic Plan for...

Pacific Seafood Lands $1.3 Million USDA Salmon Contract

Clackamas, Oregon-based Pacific Seafood Group won a $1.3 million contract to sell 108,000 pounds of frozen wild salmon fillets to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in child nutrition and domestic food distribution programs.

Specifically, the Purchase Award Description from the USDA indicated that Dulcich Inc., Pacific Seafood Group’s parent company, won the entire contract. The USDA did note that 12,160 cases (8 truckloads) of Kosher caned pink salmon and an additional 48,640 (32) truckloads of product was not awarded due to price consideration.

USDA Seeks Bids on Salmon and Alaska Pollock; Awards Catfish Contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for bids on a notable amount of Alaska pollock and wild salmon products. Plus, it unveiled its purchase awards for 270,000 pounds of farmed catfish products.

Focusing on pollock, the USDA said it is looking for offers to sell pollock products, with bids due on November 13, 2024. In all, the USDA is looking for 920,000 pounds of pollock products ranging from frozen Alaska pollock sticks, fillets and bulk containers of product...

USDA Eyeing Bids for Remaining Section 32 Pacific Seafood Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invited offers for Pacific whiting and rockfish for use in various domestic food distribution programs. In all, the USDA is looking for 26,100 cases of frozen Pacific rockfish fillets and 3,600 cases of frozen Pacific whiting fillets. 

The invitation aims to complete the USDA’s previously approved $22 million purchase of Pacific Northwest and West Coast seafood products that was announced in July. 

A few weeks ago, the USDA fulfilled most of that total, with a roughly $17.3 million purchase of Pacific...

Public Health Alert Issued For Illegally Imported Fisheries Products From Myanmar

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert late last week for a variety of products illegally imported from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. 

USDA has certain export requirements for products from Myanmar. In this case, the following seafood items were discovered to have been illegally imported from the country:

- Grandma Style Sardine in Tomato Sauce (400g)
- Grandma Style Fried Carp with Curry Paste (100g)
- Grandma Style Steamed Carp Fish (130g)
- Grandma Fish with Salt (100g)
- Grandma Steamed...

USDA Invests $14.3 Million In Farm to School Grants; Find Out Where Seafood Comes Into Play

On Monday Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA would be awarding a record-breaking $14.3 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants.

“Farm to School is a huge win for children, schools, farmers, producers and communities,” said Secretary Vilsack. “When schools have access to fresh, local food options with homegrown flavor, they can serve delicious, healthy dishes that kids are excited to eat, while also supporting the local economy. These grants continue our work to address both...

Oregon Politicians Call On USDA To Support West Coast Fishermen With Section 32 Purchases

Last year the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved $52 million to purchase Pacific groundfish and seafood products. And now Oregon’s politicians want more. 

In a letter signed by Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkle and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, the politicians are calling on the USDA to deliver more support to West Coast fishermen, seafood harvesters, processors and distributors — specifically in the form of Section 32 purchases of West Coast whiting fillets and...

USDA Awards ASMI $4.5 Million to Expand International Marketing Efforts

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) recently announced that it secured over $4.5 million in federal Market Access Program (MAP) funding to expand its international marketing efforts.

The MAP funding, provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Foreign Agricultural Service, helps offset some of the costs of overseas marketing and promotional activities in order to help U.S. exporters build their markets overseas.

MAP funds—which can only be used for international marketing activities—require a monetary match from the participating organization, which, in this case...

Lineage and Port of New Orleans Expand Import Inspection Services

Earlier this month, the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and Lineage, Inc. (Lineage), the world’s largest refrigerated-storage company, announced the addition of new cold storage inspection services at Port NOLA.

Among the new services are in-house USDA import inspections, which will specialize in streamlined, on-site USDA inspection services for imported proteins. Inspections will take place at Lineage’s Jourdan Road cold storage facility in New Orleans East, located along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal.

The new services will take place alongside Lineage’s existing USDA export inspection services...

USDA to Purchase $50 Million in Wild Alaska Pollock

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an upcoming purchase of up to $50 million of Wild Alaska pollock. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) highlighted that the purchase will support fishermen, companies and communities involved in the industry that are battling low pollock prices amid a dip in demand and increased competition from Russia.

“We all appreciate the quick response by USDA to address the needs of the seafood industry and, at the same time, food insecure Americans by committing to purchase what may be...

ASMI Continues to Experience Great Success, Thanks to USDA Funding

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has experienced great success at the helping hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), both throughout 2024 and the last 20 years.

Excellent export numbers

Among its successes is a recent string of positive return on investments (ROI) for ASMI’s 2024 exports, as achieved through its Southeast Asia Marketing Program (SAM Program), which saw a 2.867% ROI, and its Northern Europe Campaign (NEC), which saw a 3.828% ROI.

The former program was established in response to industry demand and drove an export increase of...

Potential Impact of a Government Shutdown on USDA Reports

With a potential government shutdown looming, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data on livestock and meat markets, along with numerous other reports and statistics, may become unavailable until further notice.

As Congress races to reach an agreement before the midnight deadline to avoid a shutdown, industry stakeholders are increasingly aware of the importance of maintaining access to unbiased market intelligence to operate effectively. 

In the event of a shutdown, USDA food inspectors and federal animal care workers will remain on duty, but most other federal employees will not be at work...

StarKist to Land $7.5 Million Canned Tuna USDA Contract

Tuna canner StarKist looks to be on the verge of securing a $7.5 million contract from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

AMS released a “Notice of Intent to Sole Source” on December 5, announcing the USDA’s intention to award StarKist Co. a Firm Fixed-Price contract for 140,400 cases (78 truckloads) of tuna products.

The USDA said that based on market research, Star Kist is the only company that provides “Tuna Chunk Light Can-24/12 OZ” products as required by “The Agricultural Acquisition Regulation...

Trident Seafoods, Channel Fish Land USDA Pollock Contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded over $2 million in contracts for various Alaska pollock products for use in Child Nutrition and other Domestic Food Distribution programs.

In total, contracts for 920,000 pounds of Alaska pollock products were awarded for $2,052,149.

Trident Seafoods took home most of the purchase, with the USDA purchasing 730,000 pounds of product for over $1.6 million. The USDA will buy 190,000 pounds of product for just over $448,000 from Massachusetts-based Channel Fish Processing...

USDA Seeks 270K Pounds of Catfish for Food Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for 270,000 pounds of farm-raised catfish for use in domestic food distribution programs. The USDA said acceptances will be announced by 11:59 pm CT on November 12, 2024. Deliveries are to be made between January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.

Per the USDA solicitation, deliveries are to be made between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.

Specifically, the USDA is eyeing 190,000 pounds of unbreaded raw catfish fillets and 80,000 pounds of oven-ready breaded catfish strips...

USDA Shares Purchase Award Funding for Section 32 Pacific Seafood Products 

Back in July, it was announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a $22 million seafood purchase for Pacific Northwest and West Coast seafood products, with a focus on Pacific rockfish and Pacific whiting. 

The awards were announced on August 29 and the following products were purchased in support of Child Nutrition and other related Domestic Food Distribution Programs. 

In total, 121,500 cases of seafood were purchased for roughly $17.3 million. Bornstein Seafood received a purchase...

USDA Issues Open Purchase Requests For Catfish, Pacific Whiting and Rockfish

The USDA has issued two seafood-related open purchase requests so far this month — one for farm raised catfish and the other for pacific whiting and rockfish products.

The invite for Section 32 farm raised catfish products opened on August 8. The USDA is seeking a total of 1,520,000 lbs of frozen, unbreaded raw catfish fillets (pkg 20/2 lb) to be delivered between January 1, 2025 and March 31, 2024. Offers are due by August 21 and acceptances will be announced on August 29...

USDA Announces Winners Of Section 32 Farm Raised Catfish Solicitation 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the contract winners for the Section 32 farm raised catfish products solicitation.

The USDA released an invitation in late May for 4,940,000 lbs of unbreaded raw catfish fillets (20/2 lb) for use in the domestic food distribution programs. Bids were due by June 13, and acceptances were announced by the USDA late last week. The USDA awarded contracts for the full solicitation with a purchase total of $22,864,985.48. Deliveries of the product are to be made from...

High Liner Foods and Trident Win USDA Alaska Pollock Purchase Request

On Thursday the USDA announced the purchase award winners for the May 3 invitation for Alaska pollock products. Both High Liner Foods and Trident Seafoods were awarded the contracts, which combined are worth $3,756.021.68.

High Liner was awarded a contract for 76,000 lbs of frozen Alaska pollock fillets (pkg 20/2 lb), 76,000 lbs of frozen Alaska pollock sticks (pkg 20/2 lb), and 836,000 lbs of frozen and breaded Alaska pollock sticks (40 lb carton). The contract total of 988,000 lbs is worth...