USDA Awards Nearly $50 Million to Channel Fish, Trident for Pollock Contracts

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $47 million to Massachusetts-based Channel Fishing Processing and Seattle-based Trident Seafoods for just over 21 million pounds of Alaska pollock products.

The USDA purchase award description noted that Trident was awarded a little over $25 million for 10.5 million pounds of pollock products. Meanwhile, Channel Fish landed $22.4 million for pollock products to be distributed throughout the country.

The USDA first announced the pollock purchases in February. Expana reported that the government was eyeing...

Texas Food Importer L&V Food Supply Recalls Over 1,150 Pounds of Dried Vietnamese Catfish

On February 25, 2025, C&T Produce Wholesale Inc. (doing business as L&V Food Supply) issued a recall for approximately 1,152 pounds of peppered frozen and dried catfish products imported from Vietnam into the U.S.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the fish products were produced by an establishment in Vietnam that is not eligible to export catfish to the U.S. As such, the products were not presented for import reinspection into the U.S...

Nail Factory Recalls Ineligible Frozen Catfish Products from Vietnam

On December 19, 2024, California-based NAIL Factory issued a recall of approximately 1,635 pounds of catfish products imported from Vietnam.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the products were produced in a Vietnamese facility that was ineligible to export pangasius fish to the U.S.

In addition, the products were not presented for import reinspection and bear an FDA registration number in place of an establishment number or USDA mark of inspection. The FDA does not regulate catfish products...

USDA Seeks 270K Pounds of Catfish for Food Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for 270,000 pounds of farm-raised catfish for use in domestic food distribution programs. The USDA said acceptances will be announced by 11:59 pm CT on November 12, 2024. Deliveries are to be made between January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.

Per the USDA solicitation, deliveries are to be made between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.

Specifically, the USDA is eyeing 190,000 pounds of unbreaded raw catfish fillets and 80,000 pounds of oven-ready breaded catfish strips...

USDA Announces Winners Of Section 32 Farm Raised Catfish Solicitation 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the contract winners for the Section 32 farm raised catfish products solicitation.

The USDA released an invitation in late May for 4,940,000 lbs of unbreaded raw catfish fillets (20/2 lb) for use in the domestic food distribution programs. Bids were due by June 13, and acceptances were announced by the USDA late last week. The USDA awarded contracts for the full solicitation with a purchase total of $22,864,985.48. Deliveries of the product are to be made from...

Silver Bay Seafoods, Channel Fish and More Win Latest USDA Seafood Purchase Requests

Earlier this month the USDA issued a handful of bid invitations for seafood products, including catfish, salmon and walleye, and Alaska pollock. While offer invites for the Alaska pollock products ends today, the USDA has already announced the winners for the catfish, salmon and walleye products.

Looking first at catfish, the bid invitation from the USDA went out on May 2. The bid was for a total of 392,000 lbs of catfish products for use in domestic food distribution programs, including unbreaded raw fillets and...

NASEM Committee Announces Findings Between Seafood Consumption and Child Growth 

A committee with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted a webinar this week, examining the connection between seafood consumption — particularly in women of a child bearing age, pregnant and breastfeeding women — and child growth and development. 

The Committee on the Role of Seafood Consumption in Child Growth and Development looked at finfish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and marine and freshwater fish. The aim of this research was to better understand the nutritional benefits of seafood consumption weighed against the health risks. The group found that...

Over 21 Million Pounds of Alaska Pollock Among USDA’s Latest Seafood Purchase Requests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking bids on various seafood products, including catfish, shrimp, and Alaskan pollock, through Section 32.

The USDA stated that the products, announced in three separate solicitations, will be used in domestic food distribution programs. Bids are due by February 27, and acceptances will be announced on March 6. The largest purchase is focused on Alaskan pollock, with the USDA looking for bids on over 21 million pounds of product. The offerings range from frozen pollock fillets...

USDA Seeks Bids on Salmon and Alaska Pollock; Awards Catfish Contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for bids on a notable amount of Alaska pollock and wild salmon products. Plus, it unveiled its purchase awards for 270,000 pounds of farmed catfish products.

Focusing on pollock, the USDA said it is looking for offers to sell pollock products, with bids due on November 13, 2024. In all, the USDA is looking for 920,000 pounds of pollock products ranging from frozen Alaska pollock sticks, fillets and bulk containers of product...

USDA Issues Open Purchase Requests For Catfish, Pacific Whiting and Rockfish

The USDA has issued two seafood-related open purchase requests so far this month — one for farm raised catfish and the other for pacific whiting and rockfish products.

The invite for Section 32 farm raised catfish products opened on August 8. The USDA is seeking a total of 1,520,000 lbs of frozen, unbreaded raw catfish fillets (pkg 20/2 lb) to be delivered between January 1, 2025 and March 31, 2024. Offers are due by August 21 and acceptances will be announced on August 29...

ANALYSIS: Increasing Freight Drives Pressure on Value Finfish

The frozen fillet market for tilapia, pangasius, and catfish is experiencing shifts due to a variety of factors impacting both supply and demand. Recent developments in ocean freight rates, weather conditions, and supply chain disruptions have all contributed to the current market dynamics.

Tilapia

Tilapia pricing has steadily increased for the past year due to several key factors. U.S. importers face lower inventory levels, as anticipated supply improvements by late May or early June were delayed by unusual weather patterns in China's producing areas of Guangdong and...

USDA Kicks Off May With Open Purchase Requests For Alaska Pollock, Catfish, Salmon and Walleye

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) kicked off the month of May with three seafood open purchase requests.

On May 2 a bid invitation went out for a total of 392,000 lbs of catfish products for use in domestic food distribution programs. According to the document, the USDA is seeking 152,000 lbs of catfish fillets (unbreaded, raw, pkg 20/2), and 240,000 lbs of catfish strips (breaded, oven ready, pkg 4/10). Offers are due by May 9, with acceptances set to...