Eat Seafood Twice a Week!
Eat Seafood Twice a Week!
I just returned from attending the Groundfish Forum held in Iceland. The leaders of the world’s groundfish industry were all present discussing the status of groundfishstocks and markets. As this is an invitation only event I always feel privileged to be included in such esteemed company. Two presentations stand out in my mind given by speakers reporting on the retail and foodservice sectors of the US. Independently, both presenters had come to a similar conclusion: Seafood has an unprecedented, historic opportunity ahead!
As a protein, seafood is always fighting the price issues compared to beef, pork and chicken. Seafood historically has been higher priced than these alternatives. This price difference has been a detriment to expanding seafood consumption in the US. However the trends ahead might just level this playing field.
Due to a variety of reasons, there are less cows and pigs being raised than in the past. If the economic data is to be believed prices on these proteins should rise as supply decreases. The price difference between seafood and warm blooded protein should be much less than in the past. Also, warm blooded protein does not offer the health benefits that seafood does. We have an aging, fatter population in the US that truly needs fish in their diet. The health benefits are well documented. We, the seafood industry, need to get the message out there! Eat seafood twice a week!
In the macro picture of protein this could be unprecedented times. There will be the less of a price difference for seafood when compared to warm blooded protein alternatives. We, the seafood industry need to take advantage of this minimized pricing differential. But in order to take full advantage, we need to present seafood as one industry to the marketplace, not fragmented into specie groups.
Having battle scars from earlier efforts to form a cohesive seafood marketing plan, (does anyone remember “Generic Marketing”?), it really is time to put our specie differences aside and approach the marketplace with the healthy, cold blooded protein known as Seafood. Whether it is squid, tilapia, shrimp, octopus or bluefish….seafood consumption in the US has a chance to grow. The pricing barrier vs. other proteins will be at its lowest level and the need for a healthy, fun protein alternative is at its highest level. Let’s take advantage of this historic opportunity, join forces, and with one voice send a clear message to the consumer: Eat seafood twice a week!