Eat American shrimp!
Shrimp is by far the most popular seafood choice of American diners. The U.S. has had a thriving shrimping industry along the Gulf Coast states for hundreds of years to meet this demand. So why are we now importing 85% of the shrimp we consume from thousands of miles away? Of course there’s only one reason — because it’s cheaper.
Almost all of the shrimp you eat at home or in restaurants is farmed in Thailand….In other words it is raised in man-made ponds pumped full of antibiotics, fungicides, and pesticides. It is then frozen and boxed up, and in transit for days before it reaches your city. Then it is defrosted for several more days at your local fish market before it finally arrives in your kitchen or local restaurant. Meanwhile, our domestic waters are teeming with beautiful, wild saltwater shrimp: large, white shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, or sweet, pink shrimp from the Pacific Northwest. But we are not eating this shrimp. Mainly because its high quality means that we consumers need to pay a little more for it. Restaurant owners and Fishmongers don’t think you care enough about what you put in your body to pay more, so they don’t buy it.
What’s the solution? Start asking for Wild American Shrimp…at your grocery store, favorite restaurants, and fish markets. If they say they do not carry it, ask why. Tell them that you will pay more to know that the food you are feeding your family is safe. If we demand it, they will supply it.
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There are two groups on Facebook dedicated to this:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1578376649&ref=profile#/group.php?sid=fb25c37d7965d52efa81815305f996d6&gid=11913540174
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http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=fb25c37d7965d52efa81815305f996d6&gid=4258203789
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Moderation??? Oh, I get it. Scott, if you approve, you should probably Tiny URL them.
I bet the large, white shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico and the sweet, pink shrimp from the Pacific Northwest would beg to differ with you. I am quite sure they are thrilled we are going overseas to satisfy our shrimp needs. Still I had no idea and do find the whole thing a little disturbing; would love to know my shrimp were as local as can be….