Farmed salmon ‘flying off shelves’ in US
CHILEAN salmon suppliers are beginning to see early signs of recovery in the US foodservice sector as states and counties begin to emerge from coronavirus lockdown restrictions to varying degrees., reports IntraFish.
Where restaurants and some tourist attractions are starting to reopen, diners can expect to face strict social distancing measures with capacities running at a maximum of 50 percent, depending on state policy. In Mississippi, for example, after the state’s stay-at-home order expired on April 27, restaurants were allowed to serve some customers beginning on May 7, but plans for a wider reopening of businesses were shelved after the state saw its largest single-day increase in reported cases and deaths.
By contrast, New Jersey has allowed limited reopenings for certain businesses and sectors, but the state remains largely under lockdown measures.
Florida allowed limited openings for restaurants and stores in most counties beginning on May 4.The last two remaining counties shut down in the Sunshine State began reopening on May 18.
‘As restaurants start to open we are seeing our customers coming back and ordering,’, said Camanchaca US CEO Cesar Lago.
‘It’s still too early but we are seeing very positive signs.”
The combination of lower prices, nationwide in-store promotional campaigns added to gaps in supply of meat and poultry have helped stoke interest in salmon among consumers.
At these levels Lago said salmon has been ‘flying off the shelves.’
‘Salmon is getting into more people’s mouths and I think the long term of this is going to be [higher] consumption of salmon,’ he said.