Smart Catch program absorbed by Where Food Comes From

Smart Catch, a program developed by the James Beard Foundation with support from Paul Allen’s Vulcan Foundation, has been acquired by Where Food Comes From, Inc.

The program, which was launched in 2016 and expanded in 2017, works with chefs and restaurants to promote sustainable seafood through training, education, and awards a Smart Catch seal for participating restaurants.

Where Food Comes From is an independent, third-party verification of food production practices in North America. The transition to WFCF will expand the focus of the program while reinforcing transparency and sustainability in seafood supply chains, according to WFCF CEO John Saunders.

"The integration of Smart Catch into our organization aligns seamlessly with our mission of providing greater clarity on the origin of food and supporting those that champion responsibility and authenticity within the food industry,” Saunders said. “We are committed to carrying the Smart Catch legacy forward and making a significant impact on seafood supply chains around the world."

Where Food Comes From, which is traded publicly on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the symbol WFCF, estimates that it supports more than 17,500 farmers, ranchers, vineyards, wineries, processors, retailers, distributors, trade associations, consumer brands, and restaurants with a wide variety of value-added services. The company works to verify food claims, optimize production practices, and support food supply chains with analytics through its divisions including IMI Global, Validus Verification Services, SureHarvest, WFCF Organic, and Postelsia divisions.

The Smart Catch program will broaden its scope to include all members of the supply chain while maintaining the core values it has been operating under for the last seven years, according to Saunders. While still focusing on its core audience of chefs and restaurants, Smart Catch is hoping to create a broader ecosystem to support sustainable seafood by including restaurant chains, foodservice institutions, retailers, seafood distributors, and suppliers, in addition to incorporating Postelsia’s continued work with producers.

"Our team is enthusiastic about this new chapter for Smart Catch, especially in how it offers a unique opportunity to link chefs to place-based seafood sustainability initiatives. We are dedicated to expanding the program's reach and continuing to promote the highest standards of sustainability in the seafood sector," Postelsia Co-Founder and Operations Director Laura Peet. Postelsia is the seafood division of WFCF.

The Smart Catch program will continue to be advised by Anne E. McBride, the vice president of programs at the James Beard Foundation, and the foundation will continue to support the program through the organization’s communications channels and collaborative events.

"The transfer of the Smart Catch program to Where Food Comes From marks an exciting milestone in our journey,” McBride said. “We're proud to see Smart Catch continue to flourish under the stewardship of an organization committed to sustainable food sourcing. It reinforces our mission of advocating for a high food standard and facilitating the accessibility of responsible seafood choices for chefs and diners alike.”

Previously in 2023, Where Food Comes From invested in BlueTrace, a seafood traceability company, 

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