Proexpo expands FreeBay shrimp distribution to United States

Guayaquil, Ecuador-based Proexpo has expanded distribution of its FreeBay brand of premium head-on, shell-on frozen shrimp to the United States.

National distribution of FreeBay shrimp will follow a product preview and sampling event in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. later in July, according to FreeBay International Key Account Manager Sharon Carpio.

"Our customers have come to expect the highest quality, best tasting shrimp from us, and we stop at nothing to be sure we deliver exactly that every time," Carpio said. "But we don't stop there. Customers also choose FreeBay for our quality of service and reliability, as well as for our humane practices, which are a core business value."

Proexpo exports more than 25,000 metric tons of Ecuadorian white shrimp annually to North America, Europe, and Asia. FreeBay shrimp are processed and packaged the same day they arrive at the plant to ensure freshness, and Proexpo said it has also taken additional steps in the farming and harvesting process to minimize and avoid causing the shrimp stress.

"The company takes stringent measures to humanely harvest the shrimp in order to avoid stress, including factoring in time of day, temperature, weather elements, and water levels,” Carpio said. “The avoidance of stress and release of stress hormones can also help to avoid a metallic taste noticeable in some other farmed shrimp, and it reduces perishability.”

FreeBay's shrimp won an International Taste Institute 2023 Superior Taste Award earlier this year, meaning it was judged to have met or surpassed the expectations of a jury composed of professional chefs based on its visual aspect, olfaction, taste, and texture.

Photo courtesy of Proexpo