The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded USD 22.86 million (EUR 21 million) worth of catfish contracts to several U.S. catfish producers for Child Nutrition and other Domestic Food Distribution programs.
In total, the agency contracted for 4.94 million pounds of increased raw catfish fillets for between USD 4.25 (EUR 3.96) and USD 5.75 (EUR 5.36) per pound.
The USDA awarded Itta Bena, Mississippi, U.S.A.-based Heartland Catfish contract with the largest contract – nearly 2.17 million pounds for around USD 9.4 million (EUR 8.8 million). Ocean Select Seafood in Henderson, Louisiana, U.S.A., also earned a contract to supply 1.3 million pounds of catfish for around USD 6.1 million (EUR 5.7 million).
Magnolia Processing in Tunica, Mississippi, will supply 608,000 pounds for nearly USD 3.16 million (EUR 2.9 million), and America’s Catch in Itta Bena will provide 636,000 pounds for around USD 3.1 million (EUR 2.9 million).
Simmons Farm Raised Catfish in Yazoo City, Mississippi, also earned a contract to supply 114,000 pounds of catfish for USD 536,940 (EUR 500,000), while Alabama Catfish in Uniontown, Alabama, will supply 114,000 pounds for USD 495,900 (EUR 462,000).
The USDA announced in April it would purchase more Alaska pollock, salmon, and other seafood for its National School Lunch Program (NSLP), as well as for other federal food nutrition assistance programs.
Additionally, on 30 April, USDA awarded Trident Seafoods and Channel Fish contracts worth more than USD 21.8 million (EUR 20 million) to supply Alaska pollock and Atlantic pollock, along with haddock and ocean perch, for the NSLP and other federal nutrition programs.
