Alaska Seafood Newsbrief

Message from the Executive Director

Greetings-

Alaska's rites of spring include the prolific harvests of Alaska herring: the Sitka fishery has already taken place, and Kodiak's lies just ahead. Herring, like salmon, range far and wide along the coast. The spawning of herring is a harbinger of spring, and a reminder that the first openings of the summer salmon season are not far away.

It's an exciting time of year, ripe with anticipation. International trade show opportunities are drawing Alaska producers: Boston's just behind us, and Brussels lies just ahead. Alaska has abundant supplies of premium quality Alaska seafood products to share with the world, and these trade shows are business opportunities. Alaska seafood producers exhibit in force. If you are going to the European Seafood Exposition be sure to visit the Alaska Pavilion, including exhibits of Alaska suppliers and the ASMI exhibit at Hall Six, Stand 1127. The ASMI booth that includes a meeting area available for use by all Alaska seafood suppliers. I'll be available to help you along with ASMI international staff and overseas marketing representatives. We'll also have staff and an exhibit at ComFish in Kodiak this week.

See you over the next swell,

Ray Riutta

Times Square Sighting: Wild Alaska Fish

Wild Alaska Salmon are fighting their way upstream in Manhattan! A five second video ad promoting Alaska Seafood as Wild, Natural & Sustainable, is appearing on a dynamic video billboard in Times Square in New York City, and is expected to net 1.5 million impressions during its 77 day run. Click here for more info and a link to the video.

Check out our new on-line press room with resources to aid representatives of the media: samples of high- definition video footage, still photography, press releases and a digital edition of "Alaska Seafood 2009: Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Positioning Statement and Performance Report." Photo resources are available to members of the Alaska seafood industry to promote Alaska products. Take a peek!

If you are an Alaska fisherman or processor, take advantage of the resources on the website that are set up just for you: sign up for a password on the ASMI website so you can access our library of photography, read results of recent research, and detailed information on promotional activities.

Win Your Weight in Pollock: U.K. Fish and Chip Shop Promo

In England, "Fish 'N' Chips" are an integral part of the takeaway culinary scene. In March, ASMI participated in the Donington Fast Food Show, promoting Alaska Pollock at its exhibit and accepting entries for a "Win Your Weight in Alaska Pollock" contest running through April. ASMI has been introducing genuine Alaska Pollock to operators of fish and chip shops in the U.K. It is the perfect solution for chip shop owners seeking alternatives to North Sea cod. Click here for more information.

Seafood Industry Leaders Are Semi-Finalists for Leadership Award

The Global Food Collaborative has announced semi- finalists for its leadership awards honoring those individuals and companies advancing the Alaska food supply chain. Alaska seafood industry leaders figured prominently among the semi-finalists. In the Grower/Producer/Harvester category were Bill Webber, owner of Gulkana Seafoods-Direct, and William "Bill" Barker, President of Olga Moser Bays Seafood Producers Alliance, a family set-net operation on Kodiak Island. An Alaska seafood industry leader placing in the semi-finals in the Manufacturer/Processor category is Ron Christianson, Vice-President of Retail Sales for Ocean Beauty Seafoods. The Champion category includes principals of three businesses, all of promote Alaska Seafood. Winners will be announced at Global Food Alaska 2009. To see the full listing and biographical sketches and photos of all semi-finalists visit http://www.globalfoodcollaborative.com/leadership.html.

Still Time To Get In On Global Food Alaska - 2009

Buyers and Alaska producers will be connecting at Global Food Alaska 2009 in Soldotna June 10-12. This is a trade-only event, designed to offer local, national and international buyers a comprehensive supply chain solution for Alaska products. "Think of a food supply chain from commercial buyers through distribution, transportation, packaging, inspection, processing and harvesting/growing. Now imagine walking into a show floor that depicts these supply chain partners. . ." There is still time to get onboard. ASMI is one of numerous Alaska seafood industry sponsors. Visit the event website for more information.

Alaska Productive at International Boston Seafood Show

Alaska had a strong presence at the biggest U.S. seafood trade show, the International Boston Seafood Show. Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and Alaska seafood suppliers have large exhibits at the Boston show to showcase Alaska's sustainably harvested seafood products. The demand for ASMI's "Directory of Alaska Seafood Suppliers" was on par with last year's, and ASMI dispensed thousands of pieces of literature: recipes, buyers guides, sales aids, and information on sustainable fisheries management. ASMI's "Wild, Natural, & Sustainable" exhibit featured large meeting areas and display cases arranged among natural bamboo partitions, the curved exhibition panels decorated with elegant food photographs. Banners celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Alaska Statehood were also on display. ASMI and Alaska suppliers at the show report that the quality of the contacts made during the show was excellent. Buyers for the most influential retail and foodservice chains were in attendance, Alaska suppliers were able to hold productive meetings with their sales contacts, and ASMI was able to strengthen relationships with buyers, suppliers, promotional partners and media.Click here for our 2009 Boston Seafood Show photos.

Go Wild Alaska Style! in Boston

ASMI and the Alaska seafood industry co-hosted a reception for Alaska seafood customers and promotional partners in conjunction with the recent International Boston Seafood Show. Go Wild Alaska Style! created an opportunity for Alaska suppliers to meet with customers in a relaxed social atmosphere. Platinum sponsors were Icicle Seafoods and Trident Seafoods. Gold sponsors were Ocean Beauty Seafoods, American Seafoods, Peter Pan Seafoods, and Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers. Silver sponsors were Alaska Brewing Company, Alaska Air Cargo, Kwik'Pak Fisheries and Yardarm Knot.

The "Go Wild Alaska Style!" event attracted 700 people, and the theme embraced the 50th Anniversary of Statehood and 50 years of sustainable seafood in Alaska. A banner celebrating the anniversary was created for the show exhibit, and also used at the Go Wild event. A video message from Governor Sarah Palin kicked off the Alaska seafood reception. Guest chefs, members of ASMI's Wild Alaska Seafood Congress of Conscious Chefs, prepared special Alaska Seafood appetizers while a closed circuit television camera gave attendees a bird's eye view of the action. Decorations included a large ice sculpture of the new Alaska quarter, buffet tables tempted partygoers with a dazzling array of Alaska seafood, and a 50th Anniversary cake was iced in the blue and gold of the state flag, complete with the Big Dipper and the North Star. For more information about the event, including information about the guest chefs, read the press release in the new on- line Press Room. Click here for photos.

Salmon Aid in Bay Area in June

Salmon Aid, a festival slated for June 20 and 21 in Oakland, California, will draw many wild salmon aficionados, as well as West Coast salmon harvesters who have been very hard pressed with season-long closures. As a sign of solidarity with harvesters on the West Coast, ASMI will participate in the Salmon Aid event, and will distribute information about wild Alaska salmon. For more information about Salmon Aid visit the organization's website. They invite site visitors to learn why they should eat wild salmon to save them.