The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) honored the winners of the Alaska Symphony of Seafood at an event in Juneau, Alaska, U.S.A. on 21 February.
The annual event, which was first put on in 1994, highlights new, commercial-ready, value-added products made from Alaska seafood in a competition the AFDF said aims to promote new products and spark investments in product development.
The first-place winners of each category, as well as the grand prize winner of the contest, receive booth space at Seafood Expo North America, this year's iteration of which will take place from 10 to 12 March 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Winners receive airfare to and from the show, entry into the show's Seafood Excellence Awards contest, and other promotional benefits.
The AFDF originally announced the winners at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. on 9 November 2023.
Ocean Beauty Seafoods took home first prize in the retail category for its Echo Falls Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Nuggets. High Liner Foods’ Sea Cuisine Mediterranean Salmon came in second place in the category, and Trident Seafoods’ Wild Alaska Premium Sockeye Hatch Chile Burger followed in third.
For the foodservice category, Trident Seafoods’ Kraken Stash IPA Beer Battered Wild Alaska Pollock came in first place. In second, E & E Foods was recognized for its Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Breakfast Sausage.
The first-place winner in the around-the-plate category was Glacier Delights dba The Bear House for its Alaska Seafood Crunchies Wild Fish & Sea Cucumber product. Whidbey Island Seafood Company’s Smoked Blackcod Pate’s came in second place, and Fisherman’s Kitchen’s Smoked Salmon Pepper Sticks followed in third place.
Polkadog swept the beyond-the-plate category, winning first place for its Alaskan Salmon Chips, second place for its Cod Chips, and third place for its Cod Skins.
There were also tangential awards handed out, including the Salmon Choice category, which Ocean Beauty Seafoods’ Echo Falls Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Nuggets took home; the Whitefish Choice category, which Trident Seafoods' Kraken Stash IPA Beer Battered Wild Alaska Pollock Fillets snagged, the Best Packaging category, which Polkadog won; and the Best Grab N Go category, which Ocean Beauty Seafoods' Echo Falls Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Nuggets won.
Meanwhile, The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association presented its Bristol Bay Choice award to E & E Foods for its Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Breakfast Sausage.
The Seattle People’s Choice was awarded to Whidbey Island Seafood for its Smoked Blackcod Pate, and the Juneau People’s Choice award went to Glacier Delights dba The Bear House In Alaska for its Alaska Seafood Crunchies Wild Fish & Sea Cucumber.
The grand prize winner of the entire contest was Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Polkadog, which specializes in seafood-based pet treats.
The event was sponsored by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC), Alaska Air Cargo, Pacific Seafood Processors Association, UniSea, Trident Seafoods, Aleutian Pribilof Islands Community Development Quota, Alaskan Observers, F/V McRea, F/V Savage, Alaska Commercial Fishing & Agriculture Bank, SeaAlaska, Southeast Pilots Association, Matson, North Pacific Seafoods, Global Seas, At-Sea Processors Association, and Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association.
