Greetings from Alaska

Seafood isn't the only thing being harvested in Alaska this summer: it's also the season for harvesting photographic images of our spectacularly beautiful state. This week, ASMI is conducting a photography and ASMI outreach mission to western Alaska.

Retail promotions are taking place in the U.S., Asia and Europe, the U.S. foodservice program is about to unveil another new fantastic recipe booklet for chefs and restaurateurs, and ASMI is bringing Chinese chefs to Anchorage in August to learn about Alaska seafood. Next week Chef Al Levinsohn will represent Alaska at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans.

The sales results for ASMI's Alaska Pavilion at the European Seafood Exposition show a strong return on the investment: companies tallied $48 million in on site sales and estimated 12 months sales at $500 million. Interest in Alaska Seafood is strong, and the working men and women of the Alaska seafood industry are hard at it, because things are in full swing here in Alaska as we prepare products for shipping to markets all over the world.

See you over the next swell,

Ray Riutta

Over $500 Million in Sales at Alaska Pavilion in Brussels

Alaska's fisheries are recognized as a model of sustainable management throughout the world. As a The final numbers for the Alaska Pavilion at the European Seafood Exposition are in: ASMI anchored a pavilion with 11 co-exhibitors in adjacent booths, and 7 co-exhibitors in an upstairs section. On-site sales were tallied at $48,570,000, and projected 12 month sales were estimated at $500,650,000.

"Between the Bread and the Deep Blue Sea"

That's the title of the latest recipe book focusing on one of the hottest menu trends -- sandwiches. According to Cheryl Barsness of ASMI's U.S. foodservice marketing program, "Consumers are looking for affordable menu options without sacrificing quality or flavor. " As a result, the sandwich continues to be a very popular menu item in all foodservice segments. The recipe collection includes sandwich concepts and a few examples of ways to create alternative menu options using many of the same ingredients. It is expected to be available in about two weeks.

Alaskan Beverages and Alaska Seafood Team Up

Many Safeway stores in the distribution sphere of Alaskan Brewing Company are showcasing the brewer's award winning beverages paired with Alaska seafood. The seafood retail case displays in the seafood department of participating stores carries a consumer offer in the form of a coupon that entitles the customer a rebate when they purchase Alaska seafood and Alaskan beer. This is just one of a number of promotions involving Alaska seafood products that is in full swing this summer.

ASMI Promotes Alaska Seafood, Travel to Alaska

A new ASMI ad in the September issue of Alaska magazine is designed to promote Alaska as a visitor destination and Alaska seafood as a holiday gift item. An ASMI ad this summer promoted Alaska Seafood and Alaska Grown produce, and pointed to the pairing of the two at the Great Amercian Seafood Cook-Off. This year, ASMI has been distributing Alaska Vacation Planners at trade shows in the U.S. and overseas, and provided an ad for the 2011 planner. Click here to see the ads.

Great American Food Fair in Hong Kong

The Great American Food Fair runs through this weekend in JUSCO stores in Hong Kong, and includes Alaska's king crab, coho salmon, sea cucumber, geoduck clams and black cod.

Alaska Seafood Right Now at Retail in China

• City Shop has ten outlets in Shanghai and Beijing promoting Alaska Seafood July 10 - August 10.
• This is the last week of special ASMI promotions of Alaska Seafood at various Ghangzhou department stores. Alaska halibut and Alaska snow crab are being promoted at Grandby, Guangzhou Friendship Store and Wangfujing.

New U.K. Website is Live

The new ASMI website for the United Kingdom has gone "live." The updated site has new recipe books, information about events in this important Alaska Seafood market, health information, explanations of sustainable management, and is compliant with U.S. laws governing website accessibility.

Harvesting Images, Conducting Outreach in Western Alaska

Andrew Brown, ASMI marketing representative for the United Kingdom and Northern Europe, and international program director Joe Jacobson are accompanying British photographer Steve Lee to the western Alaska region to engage in photography and ASMI outreach. Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation is helping ASMI connect with opportunities to capture images of commercial fisheries and seafood processing activity in the Nome area. A prime target of the photography harvest will be scenic shots that convey the beauty and mystique of Alaska; these are used effectively to strengthen the image of the Alaska brand, with the goal of raising the value of Alaska's marine resources for the public and private sectors alike. Steve Lee also photographs Alaska Seafood deliciously. So keep your eyes peeled for the ASMI crew in Nome, and possibly other destinations such as St. Lawrence Island, depending on weather and logistics!

Alaska's Chef Al Competing on National Stage

Alaska's popular Chef Al Levinsohn, known to many through his restaurant Kincaid Grill in Anchorage, and through his television show on KTUU-Channel 2, was named by the Governor to represent Alaska at the 2010 Great American Seafood Cook-Off (GASCO). ASMI coordinates and funds Alaska's participation in the national competition held each year in New Orleans. Last year, Chef Patrick Hoogerhyde of Orso in Anchorage, won third place at the Cook-Off, the best Alaska performance yet. Chef Al Levinsohn will create a delectable dish for the August 7 competition using Alaska Seafood and Alaska Grown product. Visit the GASCO site and learn more about Chef Al. Good luck to Chef Al!

Poland's Smoked Market Takes Off, Russian Market Emerging

Poland's Smokin' - Poland has become an important hub for seafood processors, and smokers in particular. The largest smoker in Europe, Morpol, is now based in Poland. Between 2003 and 2007 many of the major Danish and German companies relocated to Poland and this country now rivals France in smoking capacity.

German processors such as Frosta and Royal Greenland process products in Poland and deliver them into the European market. Several products also remain in the Polish market like smoked salmon, fish sticks and frozen fillets; these are found in both regular grocery stores and hard discounters.

ASMI has responded to this trend by working with Polish companies to create custom POS materials and producing the Alaska Whitefish Buyer's Guide and Salmon Buyer's Guide in Polish. ASMI will attend the Polfish tradeshow in Gdansk, Poland May 31-June 2, 2011 and welcomes participation from the Alaska seafood industry. (Thanks to Hannah Lindoff of the ASMI international marketing team for this update on Poland. For more information contact hlindoff@alaskaseafood.org.)

Russian Market Emerging - ASMI held a highly successful Alaska seafood showcase event at the U.S. Embassy Moscow for importers, retailers, the foodservice sector (referred to as "hotels, restaurants and institutions" or HRI) and media guests. The event was attended by ASMI executive director Ray Riutta and ASMI overseas marketing representative Andrew Brown. The artful Alaska seafood display included five species of Alaska salmon, black cod, and king crab and the attendees enjoyed Alaska Seafood prepared in various delectable ways. Click here to view photos and samples of printed materials.

Russia has long been a top destination for Alaska salmon roe and pink salmon. ASMI believes that there is a good opportunity to introduce premium species such as black cod in to the burgeoning Russian HRI (hotels, restaurants and institutions) industry. One of the key guests was the President of the Russian Restaurant Trade Association and as direct result of attendance at the Moscow event, ASMI has been invited to tour the Russian Restaurant show with them to be held in late September in Moscow.

ASMI will follow up on the excitement created at this event at World Food Moscow, Sept. 14-17. ASMI will have a booth in the U.S. pavilion featuring an Alaska seafood display and a full range of ASMI product sheets, buyer's guides and roe guides in Russian. (For more information contact hlindoff@alaskaseafood.org.)