Meeting restrictive standards for Louisiana shrimp brand impractical for processors
SEAFOOD.COM NEWS April 9, 2014 -
That Certified Authentic Louisiana label that you might see on bags of seafood at grocery stores is as much about survival for the state's shrimp processors, who count on being able to sell at higher prices than foreign importers.
But some processors aren't finding it easy to earn the label because their whole operation has to be related to Louisiana.
While the brand is designed to help distinguish local shrimp on store shelves, some shrimp processors have found the program's strict requirements don't line up with the realities of their businesses. Some are opting out of the program altogether.
On any given day a processor in Louisiana might buy shrimp from fishermen in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama or Florida. Keeping those different shrimp separate and labeling only the ones from Louisiana is costly and ineffective, said Rene LeBreton of the Seafood Promotion Board.
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