Christine Blank

Contributing Editor

Christine Blank, a veteran freelance writer and editor, covers all aspects of the seafood industry, from fishing to processing to selling and serving the final product. When she is not writing for SeafoodSource, Christine gets to taste scrumptious seafood dishes at U.S. restaurants for her food and travel blog, Flavorful Excursions (www.flavorfulexcursions.net). Christine loves to eat seafood of any kind, but lobster, crab and crawfish are among her favorites. In addition to SeafoodSource.com and SeaFood Business, Christine’s articles have been published in hundreds of leading magazines and newspapers, such as The New York Times, USA Today and Associated Press.

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Author Archive

Published on
December 12, 2023

Prices on fresh seafood – particularly shellfish – and shelf-stable seafood continued to drop in November, but sales and volumes declined in all segments, according to data from research firm Circana.

Fresh seafood prices declined 2.4 percent in November, according to Circana OmniMarket Integrated Fresh and 210 Analytics. Shellfish prices dropped 10.3 percent on average, with fresh crab prices falling 19.9 percent in November and

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Published on
December 12, 2023

Former American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) Director Charles David Veal was arrested on 7 December and faces a felony charge claiming he embezzled USD 3 million (EUR 2.8 million) from the association.

Veal, 79, served as executive director of the Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.A.-based organization, which represents U.S. wild-caught warmwater shrimp processors, for over a decade. He was arrested by Biloxi police on 7 December.

ASPA filed

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Published on
December 11, 2023

Shrimp and lobster is being featured by more U.S. foodservice distributors and restaurants this winter and holiday season.

Houston, Texas, U.S.A.-based Sysco recently launched two new entree menu items that are designed to save restaurants significant labor: Portico Classic Shrimp and Portico Classic Crispy Pollock.

“The holiday season is upon us and for restaurants, that means the busiest time of year. But, labor in the restaurant

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Published on
December 11, 2023

Scotland’s salmon-farming industry is defending itself against criticism from several Scottish chefs and NGOs concerned about fish welfare and environmental issues.

National trade and marketing body for the Scottish seafood industry Seafood Scotland, however, is defending the sector, pointing to a government report showing a decline in antibiotic usage among the country’s salmon farms.

Recent criticism of Scotland’s

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Published on
December 8, 2023

Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based cruise company Holland America Line plans to increase its purchases of seafood through an expansion of its fresh fish program and new partnerships with celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto, who will prepare several new seafood dishes for cruise guests to enjoy, and food home delivery company Vital Choice.

Holland America’s global fresh fish program now features 80 types of fresh fish, boasting locally sourced

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Published on
December 6, 2023

Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A.-based seafood wholesaler and processor Eastern Fish has released a frozen appetizer lineup that fills a void the company recognized was prevalent in the Asian foods market within U.S. retailers and foodservice operations, according to Eastern Fish President Eric Bloom.

“When we reviewed products in this space, we determined there was a void of high-quality, seafood-first, handmade Asian appetizers and an

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Published on
December 4, 2023

Channel Fish Processing and Trident Seafoods split USD 1.75 (EUR 1.6 million) in Alaska pollock contracts awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on 1 December.

Braintree, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Channel Fish will supply USD 988,559 (EUR 913,854) worth of frozen pollock sticks, while Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident will supply bulk surimi worth USD 759,924 (EUR 702,497).

The Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock

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Published on
December 4, 2023

Oxford, U.K.-based Oxford Nanopore Technologies and food authenticity company WeNou are collaborating to bring to market what they call the first test using nanopore sequencing to accurately identify shellfish DNA via a rapid test.

The technology will allow for the ability to identify shellfish as well as plants and insects from highly processed and complex food samples, Oxford Nanopore said in a press release.

“Using an

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Published on
November 30, 2023

Walmart will implement a new enterprise sourcing platform (ESP) at its Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the U.S., which it said will improve its efficiency and reduce waste in its fresh seafood purchasing.

Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based enterprise retail technology solution provider Bamboo Rose is providing the ESP. It said in a press release the platform will streamline Walmart’s supply chain, particularly with perishable

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Published on
November 29, 2023

Loblaws has staked a claim that it sells the largest volume of Marine Stewardship Council- and Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified fresh seafood of any grocer in Canada.

The Brampton, Ontario-based retailer, which operates 2,400 stores, making it one of Canada’s largest grocery chains, said it sells more than 200 products with MSC, ASC, and Best Aquaculture Practices certifications. Loblaw is the only coast-to-coast grocer in Canada

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