PODCAST: Episode 48 - Fueling Food Production: The Volatility of Energy Costs in 2026

Harvest season is well underway and it is the most energy-intensive period of the agricultural year. Meanwhile, the energy cost outlook for the food and agriculture sector remains complex and uncertain. In this episode of Agri-Food for Thought, join Jamie and guest, Senior Forecast Analyst Amanda Rastovic, as they break down the latest in energy market volatility and its impact on the sector. 

Listen now. 

USDA Earmarks $472.5 Million in Food Buys, Including $12 Million for Pacific Whiting and $20 Million

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to buy up to $472.5 million in American-grown and American-raised commodities for the charitable food network and other nutrition assistance programs. The purchases run through USDA's Section 32 authority, which the department describes as one of its most direct tools for supporting producers when market conditions are tight. "Through Section 32 authority, USDA can direct funding to support commodity markets during periods of imbalance...

US Shrimpers Petition ITC to Block Indian Shrimp Imports Over Forced Labor

The US shrimp industry, backed by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, has filed a trade action with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to end imports of Indian shrimp produced "through the reprehensible use of forced labor."

The Section 337 complaint asks the ITC to determine whether forced labor in the supply chains of seafood producer Nekkanti Sea Foods is an unfair trade practice that harms domestic shrimp producers...

Expana's Weekly Top 10

From climate risks and shipping disruptions to shifting trade policies and seasonal demand, this week’s top stories highlight the pressures reshaping global food and seafood markets. Chile’s salmon sector faces another challenging stretch, US seafood policy is taking a new direction, and tighter protein supplies are keeping prices in focus as retailers prepare for the holiday season.

Find archived recaps here. 

Seafood Industry, Production and Trade

10. Chilean Salmon Faces El Niño on Top of ISA, Tariffs and Feed Costs as Harvest Growth Slows by Ryan Doyle...

Cruz Commits to Markup of Bill Extending Right Whale Pause for Maine Lobstermen

US Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) has committed to moving legislation that would extend the pause on new North Atlantic right whale fishing regulations through 2035. The committee will mark up the bill when the Senate returns in November.

Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Cruz on September 15, asking him to advance the bill. Their letter pressed the committee to act quickly and pointed to a right whale monitoring program run by Maine's Department of Marine Resources...

Foodservice Operators Balance Menu Innovation, Value and Evolving Consumer Trends in October

October brought a mix of menu innovation, restaurant business developments and shifting consumer trends across the foodservice sector. As operators look to attract customers amid affordability pressures, chains are balancing seasonal launches and core-menu updates with value-oriented offerings. Meanwhile, industry research points to changing expectations around convenience, technology and prepared foods, with emerging trends offering insight into opportunities for foodservice and seafood markets in 2027.

Menu innovation remained a priority, with several chains introducing seasonal offerings and refreshing established favorites. Smashburger...

Coast Guard Rescues Five Crew From F/V Oracle Near False Pass, Alaska

The US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak deployed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to the F/V Oracle in False Pass on October 29 and airlifted all five crew members to safety.

At 4:48 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic received a report that the vessel had run aground on the south end of False Pass with five people aboard. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an...

SNP’s Call to Action: Strengthen the Country’s Brain Health Infrastructure With Better Nutrition

A new white paper titled Brain Health Is National Infrastructure: A Call to Action for Philanthropy, Public Policy, and Investment Community, was issued earlier this week by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership. It outlines a path to advance brain health through nutrition, public policy, and strategic investment.

The report builds on findings from SNP’s 10th Annual State of the Science Symposium, held September 14 in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Nutrition science, food systems, military health...

Blue Crab Emergency: Friend of the Sea and WSF Launch an Initiative to Support Italian Fishers

Damaged aquaculture farms, falling production and businesses under pressure: the blue crab emergency continues to weigh heavily on coastal communities along Italy’s Adriatic coast. In parts of Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy, the spread of this invasive species has contributed to a reduction of more than 70% in the production of market-size clams, according to figures released by the regional authorities in August 2026. The crisis threatens not only biodiversity, but also the livelihoods and future of many families...

FDA Finds Nearly Half of Imported Frozen Seafood Samples Short-Weighted

Nearly half of the imported frozen seafood the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested in 2025 was short on declared weight. In a sampling assignment, the agency found 12 of 26 samples (46%) violative, with short weights ranging from 1.42% to 32.75%. The agency collected packaged samples at ports of entry from May to September 2025 and tested them for net weight without the ice glaze.

Ice glaze is a thin protective layer of ice applied to frozen seafood after processing, and the FDA says that including...

Amazon Asks Court to Toss Seafood Greenwashing Suit

Amazon has asked a federal judge in Seattle to dismiss a class action alleging it greenwashed seafood sold on its platform. The motion, filed Oct. 26, argues that the plaintiffs do not allege that Amazon misrepresented any product's MSC certification status. "Their gripe is with MSC itself," the filing says. The case is Rogow v. Amazon.com, Inc., in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, before Judge Kymberly K. Evanson. Amazon asks the court to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, and the motion is set for January 8, 2027...

Wild Fish Conservancy Threatens New Suit Over Alaska Chinook Catches in Area M

The Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) has served notice of intent to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Alaska state officials. The group says they are failing to manage fisheries that catch Chinook salmon "without federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) oversight of their impacts on threatened and endangered Pacific Northwest Chinook."

The Washington-based group has sued NMFS and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) more than once over Chinook bound for the Pacific Northwest...

Copernicus Data Supports Aquaculture Planning as Ocean Conditions Shift

Satellite data from the European Union’s Copernicus program is helping aquaculture producers monitor changing ocean conditions, identify suitable farming locations and improve operational planning as climate change creates new challenges for the sector. The technology is highlighted in Part 3 of the EU Space Agency (EUSPA)’s 2026 EU Space Market Report series, which examines how satellite data and related applications can support fisheries and aquaculture. 

As warming seas increase the risk of harmful algal blooms and aquaculture operations move farther offshore, producers face growing challenges in...

Krusinski Completes 13,000-SF Santa Monica Seafood Expansion in Rancho Dominguez

Krusinski Construction Company has completed a 13,000-SF interior renovation of Santa Monica Seafood's Rancho Dominguez, California, facility. The project, which Expana reported was underway in August, supports the distributor's packaging, storage and distribution work for customers in more than 40 states.

The fast-track job reconfigured 9,000 SF of warehouse space and added a new 4,000-SF temperature-controlled cooler, held at 35°F, for packaging lines, ambient rooms and refrigeration equipment...

McDonald’s China Opens First Ocean-themed Restaurant With Focus on Sustainability

McDonald’s China has officially opened its first ocean-themed restaurant in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen, with its long-standing partner, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Ocean-inspired elements are incorporated throughout the restaurant from its exterior and communal spaces to the details on individual tables, connecting products, sourcing practices and educational content to help consumers better understand the story behind sustainable seafood...

ASC Honors Sainsbury’s, MOWI and Seafood Suppliers at 2026 UK Awards

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) recognized retailers, producers and suppliers for their contributions to responsible aquaculture at the MSC and ASC UK Awards 2026, held Oct. 28 at Fishmongers’ Hall in London.

Sainsbury’s, MOWI, Co-op, Waitrose and New England Seafood were among this year’s winners, highlighting efforts to expand the availability of ASC-certified seafood and strengthen environmental and social responsibility across the aquaculture supply chain.

Sainsbury’s received the ASC Supermarket of the Year award for the fifth consecutive year...

From Pages to Plates: Kura Sushi USA Partners with Nintendo’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Game

The fun discoveries continue at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, as Yoshi, Mr. E, and Smiley Flowers leap from the pages of the storybook and into the iconic Bikkura Pon prize machine! Kura Sushi USA, Inc., the nation's largest brand of revolving sushi restaurants, today announced its partnership with Nintendo of America to bridge the world of the Yoshi and the Mysterious Book game on the Nintendo Switch 2 system with Kura Sushi’s playful dining experience.

Starting Nov. 1, Yosh...