By: Rick Stein, Vice President, Fresh Foods, Food Marketing Institute
The recent Seafood Expo North America in Boston turned out to be a great event. The wonderful thing about the seafood industry is that for the most part they sing out of the same hymn book. Conversations, presentations and exhibitor booths all touted the industry challenge of maintaining sustainable fisheries. The looming issue of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing globally continues to be a focus of the industry.
More than 2.5 billion people worldwide depend on fish for food and nutrition. In the United States, seafood makes up an essential part of our economy – and our plates. In 2013, Americans consumed 4.6 billion pounds of seafood. However the issue of IUU harms this industry and at Boston’s Seafood Expo it was top of mind. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced their action steps to prevent IUU at the Expo on Sunday afternoon. The action steps are a great beginning to end these horrific practices. There were many companies that talked about traceability and the opportunity to help retailers ensure they were buying from credible and sustainable sources.
On the show floor the industry looked very healthy. The aisles were packed with attendees and the smell of cooked fish and other seafood was abundant. The seafood industry is poised to make incremental gains in sales and consumer appeal. Health and wellness trends will keep this sector growing for years to come and, based on my observations, the suppliers are ready for the growth challenge.
Industry Topics address your specific area of expertise with resources, reports, events and more.
Our Research covers consumer behavior and retail operation benchmarks so you can make informed business decisions.
Events and Education including online and in-person help you advance your food retail career.
Food Safety training, resources and guidance that help you create a company food safety culture.
Government Affairs work — federal and state — on the latest food industry policy, regulatory and legislative issues.
Get Involved. From industry awards to newsletters and committees, these resources help you take advantage of your membership.
Best practices, guidance documents, infographics, signage and more for the food industry on the COVID-19 pandemic.
