February 16, 2023

 

USDA seeks to buy 15.2 million pounds of Alaska pollock

 

 

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning to purchase 15.2 million pounds of Alaska pollock, along with 173,000 cases of canned salmon.

 

The USDA is asking suppliers to bid on 7.6 million pounds of frozen pollock fish sticks and 7.6 million pounds of frozen pollock fillets. Bids are due by February 22.

 

If the USDA fulfills all its new contract requests, it would be the third-largest single award the USDA has filed in its history, the Genuine Association of Alaska Pollock Producers chief executive officer Craig Morris told SeafoodSource. It would also make this fiscal year, which ends September 30, the fourth-biggest year of USDA pollock purchases on record.

 

"With expected additional purchases between now and the end of USDA's purchase year, this year could move up even higher on that list," Morris said.

 

The new USDA purchase announcement "could not come at a better time for our industry," Morris added.

 

"Our fleet is now just underway with our A season that started on January 20, and our member companies are heading into the trade show season to discuss sales contracts with customers for the upcoming year," he said. "With the USDA now showing its strong support for our industry through this substantial purchase announcement … our members can factor that into our supply and demand outlook."

 

In the same notice, the USDA said it is also asking for bids on 174,000 cases of canned red salmon.

 

Separately, the government agency is seeking for bids on 1.14 million cases of canned pink salmon under its Section 32 authority. Bids on all salmon contracts are also due February 22.

 

"The USDA's Section 32 purchase announcement is great news for Alaska – almost US$100 million of Alaskan seafood for people experiencing food insecurity," said US Senator Lisa Murkowski in a statement provided to SeafoodSource. "This purchase won't just bolster Alaska's seafood industry and support our coastal communities but will help bring the highest-quality and healthiest seafood products in the world to families in need. I am grateful for the USDA's investment in our fishermen and the health of Americans."

- SeafoodSource