The salmon season is officially underway. On Thursday, nearly 450 boats will pack into the mouth of the Copper River to harvest one of Alaska‘s most famous brands. Traditionally, the brand has been a real success story for marketers in the seafood industry. “Copper River Reds” could fetch as much as $30 a pound in the first few weeks. As the rest of Alaska gears up and increases production, the price will fall over the coming weeks. However, many people are willing to pay top dollar to get their hands on the first salmon of the season. @TedLandKTUU will be tweeting and reporting live from the fishery. As I’m composing this post, I can see numerous boats heading out of the Cordova harbor on their way to the fishing grounds. It should be a crazy day tomorrow. Good luck to all the captains and crews involved. It looks like its going to be a beautiful day of fishing.
The 2012 season will kick off on Thursday, May 17th with the first Copper River King and Sockeye salmon arriving at restaurants and markets for the weekend. “Copper River Salmon comes from an untouched environment that keeps producing the finest salmon in the world,” says Brian Rutzer, who has been fishing the Copper River for twenty years onboard his 32’ boat, the Controller Bay. For Brian, like the 540 other members of the fleet, fishing is a way of life that harvests one of nature’s healthiest wild foods and feeds a hunger for adventure, independence and vast open spaces.
Copper River King, the largest and most sought after of all Pacific salmon species, run through the end of June. Sockeye, which makes up the heart of the Copper River commercial salmon harvest, run through the end of July., The naturally high oil content, brilliant color, and firm texture make Copper River salmon perfect for preparations and pairings that let its succulent flavor shine through.
Like all seafood from Alaska, Copper River salmon are always wild, natural and sustainable. Following stronger than anticipated King and Sockeye harvests in 2011, this year’s Copper River forecast is for a harvest of 20,000 Kings and 1.43 million Sockeye.
The biggest question often asked by Copper River salmon fans is, ‘where can I find it near me?’. Now, with the new Copper River Salmon Locator App, finding Copper River Salmon at restaurants and markets has never been easier. Consumers, restaurants and retailers can also add locations carrying Copper River Salmon to the App database http://www.findcopperriver.org or with Jessyka at jessyka(at)copperrivermarketing(dot)org.
via Copper River Salmon: More to Love, Easier to Find – seattlepi.com.
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