The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is reporting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved purchase of 3.7 million pounds of wild Alaska sockeye salmon, 4-ounce fillet portions and 716,800 cases (24 cans/case) of half-pound cans of wild Alaska sockeye salmon. Additionally, the USDA purchased $8 million of Pacific rockfish fillets, which includes product from both Alaska and the West Coast. These purchases were made through Section 32 under the secretary of agriculture’s authority and are valued at approximately $68 million to participating Alaska seafood suppliers.
The Section 32 program has benefitted U.S. fisheries, responding to supply chain disruptions and various other market difficulties. It provides food-insecure Americans with high-quality, healthy, and sustainable seafood protein. This purchase will supply food banks and other food-aid distribution outlets around the country starting in July through the end of the year.