Newsletter Home     Industry Bite     Wild Watch     Featured Articles     Recipe of the Month     Order Materials Alaska Salmon Harvest Predicted to Make A Big Splash This Summer! The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is pleased to announce the return of fresh, wild and always sustainable Alaska Salmon to the market this May. The highly anticipated salmon season is reveled both globally and locally as chefs and consumers count down the days to its debut. The summer salmon season typically runs through early fall and this season a big return has been forecasted. "This is an exciting time of year for Alaska as we anticipate the first salmon run of the summer. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is projecting the seventh strongest run on record this year. This is a real testament to Alaska's successful sustainable fisheries management," states Ray Riutta, Executive Director of ASMI. Enter wild Alaska King and Sockeye, the first wild salmon to arrive in early May as they instinctively return to the pure and pristine rivers and streams of Alaska. Cohos, Ketas and Pinks follow in June. It is the cold rushing waters of Alaska, coupled with a natural marine diet, that produce some of the richest, most naturally succulent salmon in the world. These sought-after fish are naturally equipped with extra oils and fats to fuel them on their long journey to return to their place of origin. It is this delicate, yet complex design that results in a fish rich in heart-healthy omega-3s, not to mention superior texture, rich coloring and flavorful taste. As the first run of Alaska Salmon "swim" into the market, chefs are developing recipes that capture this universally favored fish's prized flavor. Renowned for its versatility, it can be prepared using a variety of applications. From cedar planking to grilling with marinades, rubs and glazes, the summer season opening of the salmon fishery makes this an exciting time of year for menuing wild Alaska Salmon. Indeed, chefs can showcase their skills by experimenting with citrus, sweet, smoke, spice and herbal flavorings, enticing customers to come back for more all summer long. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Offers "Salmon Support" Foodservice operators looking to capitalize on the highly anticipated summer Alaska Salmon harvest can look to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) for support. ASMI offers operators a plethora of innovative and appealing salmon-focused merchandising materials as well as an Alaska Salmon waitstaff tip card and an interactive training CD. These materials are specifically designed to support operators in enticing customers to order Alaska Salmon menu items. Among the available salmon-orientated merchandising choices are the "Nothing Ever Worked This Hard to Reach Your Plate" themed materials, which feature an original chalk-drawn salmon jumping upstream. Another option is the "Alaska Seafood: Flavor As Big As All Outdoors" materials. Patrons and operators alike are attracted to this series vintage design and rich, deep colors that are representative of the big, delicious flavors found in Alaska Seafood. Both of these collections include posters, table tents, waitstaff buttons and menu sheets. Another offering from ASMI's repertoire of support materials is the Alaska Salmon waitstaff tip card. This "cheat sheet" supports the frontline by providing information on flavor and texture profiles, nutritional attributes and benefits, and facts on sustainability. The waitstaff tip card is designed to help your servers raise customer awareness about the benefits of wild and abundant Alaska Salmon as well as drive sales. In addition, an Alaska Salmon interactive learning CD-ROM called "Wild Style" is available. The 20-minute CD offers training where chefs and waitstaff will learn how and why every Alaska Salmon is caught in the wild - never farmed; hear why John Ash and other renowned chefs champion sustainable resources - such as wild Alaska Salmon; and discover the key traits and cooking characteristics of the five species of wild Alaska Salmon. To check out these materials click here or order online from ASMI's website at www.alaskaseafood.org or call toll-free at 1-800-806-2497.