Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Invites Consumers to Enter the COOK IT FROZEN!™ 2006 Recipe Contest To Win $5,000 or Seven-Day Culinary Cruise

Seattle, Washington, January 26, 2006 –The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has just announced that the COOK IT FROZEN!™ “Frozen to Fabulous” Recipe Contest, set to begin March 1 and run through April 15.  Consumers are invited to submit original, creative recipes featuring frozen Wild Alaska Seafood that include Salmon, Halibut, Cod, Sole/Flounder and/or Crab (King, Snow and Dungeness) using COOK IT FROZEN!™ techniques.  The grand prize winner will receive a choice of $5,000 in cash or a Seven-Day Culinary Cruise to Alaska.  Three second place winners will receive $500 each; and ten third place winners will receive $100 each.

Consumers are asking for Wild Alaska Seafood because they are increasingly aware that the cold, pure waters of Alaska produce seafood of the highest quality, with firm texture and superior flavor.   ASMI recognizes that today’s consumer has less time than ever to prepare healthy and delicious meals for their families, and they’re not going to sacrifice quality.  The availability of high quality frozen Wild Alaska Seafood allows the consumer to enjoy it all year long; and COOK IT FROZEN!™ techniques make it easy and convenient for consumers to prepare frozen Wild Alaska Seafood directly without thawing.  Skipping the thawing process takes the planning out of mealtime and makes frozen Wild Alaska Seafood a pantry item that can be on hand and readily available for quick to fix, healthy and delicious meals.  Whether you sauté, bake, poach, broil, steam, stovetop grill or add it to soups or stews, you can go from “Frozen to Fabulous” in just minutes.

Consumers over 21 who have never cooked professionally can enter the “Frozen to Fabulous” Recipe Contest online by going to www.cookitfrozen.com; or at participating stores nationwide by filling out the entry forms found on a 3x5 tear pad in the frozen seafood section.  Full rules are provided on the tear pads; as well 4x8 static clings will further call out the contest for interested shoppers. Entry forms and recipes can be mailed to 150 Nickerson Street, Suite 310, Seattle, Washington 98109.  Photographs of recipes are welcome but not required.  A panel of judges will determine the winners, which will be announced in June 2006.

The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is the State of Alaska’s official seafood marketing arm.  It is a public agency of the State of Alaska, funded by the Alaska seafood industry and federal grants.  ASMI promotes Alaska Seafood throughout the U.S. and in 16 other countries.  ASMI also provides education and training to the seafood industry in food safety and quality assurance practices. Please visit www.alaskaseafood.org for more information.

Alaska’s Pollock and Salmon fisheries have been certified to the Marine Stewardship Council’s environment Standard as well-managed and sustainable fisheries.  For more information visit http://www.msc.org.

Contact:
Debra Arbogast
Schiedermayer & Associates
619/702.7500

Click here to view ASMI's "CIF RECIPE CONTEST AD"