USDA plans more pollock purchases in 2024, cancels walleye buy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will likely buy lots more Alaska pollock in 2024, according to Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers CEO Craig Morris.

In a new solicitation, the USDA is seeking to buy 815,600 pounds of pollock, including 435,000 pounds of frozen bulk fish and 380,000 pounds of frozen breaded Alaska pollock fillets.

Bids must be submitted by 14 November 2023 and acceptances will be announced by midnight on 27 November. Deliveries to several cities will be made between January and 31 March 2024.

The solicitation is an entitlement purchase, so it is much smaller than the very large “bonus” or surplus removal purchases that USDA delivers to food banks in household portion sizes, according to Morris. Entitlement purchases come solely from school districts that are using their entitlement credits from USDA based on the percentage of families in the district that qualify for free or reduced-priced meals. The districts need to choose to order seafood instead of other proteins like chicken or beef, Morris said.

However, Morris said 2024 is shaping up to be ... 

Photo courtesy of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers