AUSTIN
, Texas (July 9, 2009) –
With its own port buyer living and working in Alaska,
Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI) has created a one-of-a-kind seafood supply line. For shoppers, this means access to the highest-quality wild Alaska salmon available, usually within 48 hours or less of the catch.
“Fresh, wild Alaska salmon is only available for a few short months each year, which is why Whole Foods Market has a port buyer on site all summer to 'port hop,' selecting salmon right where it's caught, as each salmon fishery opens for the season,” said Mark Curran, facility team leader for Whole Foods Market Select Fish. “Our port buyer, Keith Harris, has a long relationship with Alaska fishermen and salmon processors, ensuring our customers enjoy the best, most flavorful King, Sockeye and Coho salmon just as they come into season.”
Whole Foods Market's presence at the source allows selective purchasing from fishermen and producers using best practices, such as intentionally short fishing trips that result in limited catches of peak-quality salmon. This ensures that the best fish reaches shoppers. Visit wholefoodsmarket.com/pressroom to watch Harris in action.
Having an on-site port buyer hand selecting top-quality salmon where it is caught, then shipping it directly to stores, has allowed Whole Foods Market to create a supply line that is unrivaled in the supermarket industry. This means salmon is flown in at its freshest, preserving the fish's firm texture and rich color.
“I am in constant pursuit of quality fish, choosing only bright-skinned salmon with a firm texture, avoiding the bruising that typically occurs from rough handling,” said Harris. “I focus on salmon runs with the reddest, most vibrant meat color available.”
Look for the blue and white Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) seal on our wild Alaska salmon. The MSC operates the leading global certification program and eco-label for sustainable fisheries. This means that MSC-certified salmon comes from a well-managed fishery, which ensures that salmon are caught responsibly and that populations will not be depleted.
Because wild Alaska salmon matures at its own pace, eating an abundantly rich and varied diet from icy Alaskan waters, the fish has an extra layer of fat that contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and makes for a buttery, velvety superior flavor. Quick and easy to grill, bake, broil, poach or sauté, salmon makes a perfect canvas for the amateur cooks and chefs alike.
Throughout the summer, Whole Foods Market invites seafood lovers to come in for wild Alaska salmon cooking demonstrations and to pick up salmon recipe cards, which include a mouth-watering Grilled Wild Alaska Salmon with Basil Lemon Butter and a Wild Alaska Salmon and Avocado Salad that is quick and cool for summer.
Salmon recipes and cooking tips are available at wholefoodsmarket.com/pressroomroducts/njafs, and salmon recipe photos are at wholefoodsmarket.com/pressroom.
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