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.
- Author Bio [1]
- Latest Posts [2]
Jessica Alfreds [3]
Latest posts by Jessica Alfreds (Posts [5])
- No place for anger… [6] - December 19, 2012
- Out of reach [7] - December 5, 2012
- Topless pictures and the culture of shame [8] - October 15, 2012
- Exhaling… [9] - August 20, 2012
- Sweet corn’s last hoorah [10] - September 6, 2011