Sockeye nuggets, breakfast sausage win Alaska Symphony of Seafoods awards

Ocean Beauty Seafoods’ Echo Falls Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Nuggets and Trident Seafoods’ Kraken Stash IPA Beer Battered Wild Alaska Pollock Fillets won the retail and foodservice awards at the 2023 Alaska Symphony of Seafoods.

The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) announced the winners at the Pacific Marine Expo on 9 November. The competition, organized by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation since 1994, is for commercial-ready, value-added products, with the goal of promoting new products made from Alaska seafood.

Other winners this year, chosen from a list of finalists announced in October, included E & E Foods’ Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Breakfast Sausage, which won the Bristol Bay Choice Award; Whidbey Island Seafood Company’s Smoked Blackcod Pate, which won the Seattle People’s Choice Award; Glacier Delights’ Alaska Seafood Crunchies – Wild Fish and Sea Cucumber, which was the winner of the Around the Plate Award; and Polkadog’s Alaskan Salmon Chips, the winner of the Beyond the Plate Award.

“The true champions are Trident’s battered/breaded R&D team, whose dedication and creativity shaped this award-winning product,” Trident Seafoods Senior Marketing Manager Katie Hohman said in a LinkedIn post. “The Kraken Stash IPA Beer Battered Wild Alaska Pollock product is a testament to their culinary expertise and innovation.”

The first-place winners of each category and the grand prize winner receive booth space at the 2024 Seafood Expo North America in March, airfare to and from the show from Alaska Air Cargo, entry into the Seafood Excellence Awards contest, and other promotional benefits.

“New this year, all entrants who are interested will also receive initial consulting services with the AFDF Startup Accelerator (formerly the Alaska Ocean Cluster), which could also lead to incorporation into their portfolio of startups. The AFDF Startup Accelerator can help support commercial growth in new companies,” AFDF said in a press release.

Judges for this year’s contest included Sysco’s Michael Mills; Rogge’s BT Thompson and Becca Yeardsley; Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s John Burrows; Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association’s Daniela Klimsova; Alaska Airlines’ Scott Habberstadt; Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers’ Craig Morris; National Fisherman’s Carli Stewart; Lynden Logistics/AML’s Greg Obeso and Dani Camden of Lynden Logistics/AML; and Mon Appetit’ Cynthia Nims. Scoring was based on the product packaging and presentation, overall eating experience, price and potential for commercial success, AFDF said.

Tthe winners will be celebrated at the Symphony Awards Ceremony and UFA Legislative Reception in Juneau, Alaska, on 21 February co-hosted with the United Fisherman of Alaska.

Photo courtesy of Trident Seafoods