Alaska Seafood Newsbrief

Message from the Executive Director

Greetings-

Many people associate fishing with the summer, however there is some kind of seafood harvest taking place every month of the year in Alaska. During the short days of the Alaska winter, in unforgiving weather conditions, many of Alaska's commercial fishermen work their hardest. In Southeast Alaska, divers ply the winter waters to harvest highly prized geoduck clams and sea cucumbers, and trollers seek succulent winter king salmon. And some of our largest fisheries, including the groundfish and crab fisheries, take place during the coldest months of the year in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Hats off to the men and women of the Alaska seafood industry, who work very hard to harvest and process this flavorful, healthy food that is enjoyed the world over!

See you over the next swell,

Ray Riutta

Da! Exploring Russian, Eastern European Emerging Markets

World Food Moscow attracted 45,250 specialists from 20 countries. ASMI participated as part of its exploration of specific emerging markets. Products that attracted more attention this year included halibut, crab, sockeye, salmon roe and black cod, and Alaska seafood suppliers estimated sales as a result of the show to exceed $3 million. The Alaska Seafood exhibit displayed a range of products, and staff met with traders and press, offering Russian translations of the Salmon Buyer's Guide and Whitefish Buyer's Guide. The exhibit was visited by John Beyrle, United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation.

For those doing business in Russia, Russian language in-ice signs, product sheets and banners will be printed. The Whitefish Buyer's Guide and Salmon Buyer's Guide have also recently been translated into Polish, Ukrainian and Romanian for use in developing overseas markets in which the Alaska industry is interested.

FHC China (Food and Hospitality China) is the top imported food show in China, and this year's show offered 800 exhibits from 85 countries. This year, Alaska Seafood made a debut at the early December show. Robin Wang, overseas marketing representative for ASMI in China, reports on a distinguished visitor: "Mr. Edward Schafer, United States Secretary of Agriculture was at the show and visited our ASMI booth. Roger and I had a very pleasant talk with him and reported to him that China ranks as the second largest export market for Alaska seafood. He was very glad to hear the progress ASMI has made in the Chinese market. He also agrees that China is a very good potential market for the Alaska seafood products. He also tasted the smoked sockeye salmon in the ASMI booth." ASMI's international marketing activities receive funding from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service through the Market Access Program.

Consumer Food Shows in Atlanta, Cleveland

Taste of Atlanta in October and the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland in November offered opportunities to showcase Alaska Seafood and acquaint consumers with COOK IT FROZEN!® - the campaign that shows consumers how to take Alaska Seafood right out of the freezer, prepare it without thawing, and have it on the table in a matter of minutes. Covering the two shows were Larry Andrews, who oversees ASMI's retail marketing effort, assisted by Karl Uri of the ASMI staff. Mark Jones, ASMI's retail marketing field representative, and a professional chef trained in preparing Alaska seafood also participated in the effort. They provide samples of Alaska seafood - Alaska Salmon, Alaska Cod, and Alaska Pollock -- and Alaska seafood recipes to thousands of interested consumers, while sharing information about flavor, ease of preparation, health benefits and sustainability.

New FREE Resources for Retailers Merchandising Sustainable Alaska Seafood

Among the many free resources available to retail grocers offering their customers Alaska Seafood are new items that showcase the sustainability of Alaska seafood. The new materials focusing on sustainability include rolls of on-pack stickers that fold out and offer information on sustainable Alaska Seafood, recipe box for ASMI recipe leaflets, poster and static cling. The pieces bear the Alaska Seafood logo with the trademarked tagline "Wild, Natural, & Sustainable" - the same logo that retailers and seafood suppliers may get permission to use on their products. The recipe box states that "The Alaska seafood logo affirms your support for sustainable fisheries," and has helpful tips on the back for counter staff.

ASMI also developed an in-pack version of its Sustainable Alaska Seafood Wallet Card, suitable for use inside food packaging.

Giant Eagle Makes the Most of National Seafood Month

Three hundred sixty-three Giant Eagle supermarkets promoted Alaska sockeye salmon, king crab, Dungeness crab, halibut, flounder and pollock as well as the program called COOK IT FROZEN!® during the month of October, using a "Seafood Month" theme. Banners and signs sported the Alaska Seafood logo with the store chain's logo, and the COOK IT FROZEN!® logo was also prominently featured. Giant Eagle made an investment in conducting demonstrations of the COOK IT FROZEN!® method in the stores to engage customers, and further engaged them with a drawing with the prize of a free trip to Alaska. Staff training was conducted to help the chain get the maximum mileage out of the promotion.

Roots of Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Management Explored

At the West coast's biggest commercial fishing show, Pacific Marine Expo, ASMI teamed up with United Fishermen of Alaska to present a conference session on the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood and sustainable fisheries management in the state. Presentations were offered by Arni Thomson, Executive Director of the Alaska Crab Coalition and Chair of the ASMI Shellfish Committee, Representative Bill Thomas of the Alaska State Legislature, and Bob King, a journalist, writer, history buff, and former assistant and press aide to the Governor of Alaska. Arni Thomson fished commercially in Alaska for many years, and is an avid historian. Representative Thomas, a gillnetter serving in the leadership of the Alaska House of Representatives, has overseen the body's preparation of the budget for the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, and discussed policy makers' perspectives. Bob King conducts work for the Marine Conservation Alliance, and is currently finalizing an Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game publication commemorating 50 years of statehood and sustainable fisheries management in Alaska. Cora Crome, Fisheries Policy Advisor for Governor Sarah Palin, was also in attendance.

New Leaflets for Rubs and Marinades, Sauces and Dips

Two new recipe leaflets have been created for the Quick and Easy series, one featuring rubs and marinades, the other featuring sauces and dips. They offer many flavorful recipes, and mouth-watering photographs, together with preparation tips.

Interactive Map of Alaska Helps Sell the Sizzle

This new interactive map of Alaska will give you the details you need about where Alaska seafood is harvested. You'll find information on the communities large and small where Alaska seafood is a way of life, and learn about harvest methods and which fisheries are conducted in the different regions of the state. Photographs of the communities are offered, as well as Fun Facts for each region. Check it out!