1. Alaska Global Food Aid Program Expanding the Horizons of Wild Alaska Seafood
All Hands Meeting 2018
Presented by Bruce Schactler
Director, Alaska Global Food Aid Program

2. Expanding Horizons for Consumer Products
USDA Purchases FY 2018
Wild Alaska Pollock Breaded Fish Sticks
1,558,000
lbs. $
3,577,856
Wild Alaska Frozen Pollock Block
2,772,000
3,985,748
Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Fillets
324,000
3,666,600
Canned Wild Alaska Pink Salmon
3,665,670
8,607,587
Canned Wild Alaska Pink Salmon, Kosher
975,270
2,292,256
TOTAL
9,294,940
22,130,047

3. NEW CONSUMERS  NEW CUSTOMERS
EXPANDING OFFERINGS
From kosher, to breaded and naked fillet portions – access to larger health conscious, consumer base, to super athletes, to growing children, to the elderly
EXPANDING RETAIL DEMAND
Consumers introduced to these new products through programs will look for them in their local markets
EXPANDING PRODUCTS
Frozen Wild Alaska Whole Grain Breaded Pollock Fish Sticks
Frozen Wild Alaska Frozen Pollock Portions
Wild Alaska Kosher Canned Pink Salmon
Wild Alaska Frozen Sockeye/Coho Salmon Fillets
Wild Alaska Herring Fillets
Wild Alaska Canned Herring
Started with Wild Alaska Canned Salmon

4. PRODUCT, PROGRAM & MARKET EXPANSION: CURRENT
USDA Programs
TEFAP
NSLP
FDPIR
6 PRODUCT FORMS
5 PROGRAMS
3 SPECIES
WIC
CSFP

5. EXPANDING CONSUMER EXPOSURE
7,300,000
WOMEN, CHILDREN
& OLDER ADULTS
30,000,000+
CHILDREN
10,000,000
FAMILIES
90,083
INDIVIDUALS

6. EXPANDING PROGRAMS National School Lunch Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
The Emergency Food Assistance Program
National Food Banks
Domestic & International
Women, Infants & Children Supplemental Nutrition Program
Commodity Supplemental Food Program

7. WILDLY SUCCESSFUL Wild Alaska Pollock Tasting with USDA Decision-Makers

8. WILD SUCCESS Wild Alaska Salmon Tastings with USDA Decision-Makers

9. Wild Alaska Pollock
Need for affordable, high quality protein that appeals to mass markets; from school-age children to food-insecure adults
Delicious and versatile, Wild Alaska Pollock has a mild cod-like taste, white flaky meat and a delicate texture; low in saturated fats and calories, and high in Omega-3 fatty acids
Response to nutrition and food-assistance markets need for new direct-purchase consumer-ready product
Public health officials recommend unrestricted consumption of Wild Alaska Pollock for everyone, including pregnant and nursing women and young children
1.6 Million lbs of Wild Alaska Pollock Whole Grain Breaded Fish Sticks have been purchased since May 2018
$ 20 Million of Wild Alaska Pollock Bonus Buy programmed through food banks through September 2018
USDA purchases for the National School Lunch Program will expose millions of families to new, healthier options

10. Wild Alaska Pollock Consumer Research
Interviews conducted under AGFAP direction:
Commodity and program directors, volunteers, consumers, and cooks
FINDINGS
Donors and consumers alike are increasingly asking for healthier and easy-to-prepare options that appeal to all ages
Recognition of the importance of protein at every stage of human development
Wild Alaska Pollock is used widely in afterschool programs and women’s shelters
Consumers cited ease of use and preparation, superior nutrient contents, taste, and sustainability as major reasons for liking the product
Recipients benefit from cost-effective, healthful, value-added animal protein alternative
Wild Alaska Pollock Fish Sticks are one of the most highly requested items in Food Banks

11. Rave Reviews from Child Nutrition Programs
Photo credit: DC Central Kitchen
Rave Reviews from Child Nutrition Programs
“Last month [May], we introduced a new meal to our Healthy School Foods menu and the results are in! Students love the new sustainably sourced Wild Alaskan Pollock tacos!”
-DC Central Kitchen
“Yes! Wild Caught Alaska Pollock is great for school foodservice programs. The mild, clean flavor is a perfect way to get kids excited about eating seafood two times a week.”
-Joe Urban, Director of Food and Nutrition Services Greenville County Schools, South Carolina

12. Wild Alaska Pollock Purchased for Food Banks
Total Amount:
7,98,000 lbs.
Total USD:
$20,000,000

13. Wild Alaska Pollock Purchased for National School Lunch Program
Total Amount:
4,330,000 lbs.
Total USD:
$7,600,000
Wild Alaska Pollock Fish Sticks (Lbs.)
Wild Alaska Pollock Block (Lbs.)
Map by Mandy Bridges

14. Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Fillet Portions
Wild Alaska Salmon Fillet Frozen Portions (Sockeye and Coho) are available in 1 lb. packages of 4 oz. PBO vacuum-packed portions each on the USDA Foods Available List 
FDPIR program has become a cultural institution in Native communities, where traditional foods connect them to their history AND offer high-quality nutrition

15. Wild Alaska Canned Salmon
Photo credit: Mandy Bridges
Wild Alaska Canned Salmon
Total Amount:
165,680 cases
Total USD:
$10,899,849
Canned Salmon is the shelf-stable staple of food and nutrition programs
Map by Mandy Bridges

16. Wild Alaska Herring
Wild Alaska Herring, the unsung hero of Alaska's seafood offerings
Healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids
Available fresh and shelf-stable forms
A fun and festive way of reintroducing this tasty, healthy fish to the culinary scene (Herring Week, Old Scandinavian cuisine & restaurants on the Seattle food scene)
Benefits many rural Alaskan communities where the species is abundant but underutilized
A cost effective product, perfect for international food aid and prepositioning for emergencies

17. Wild Alaska Seafood Powder
Applications:
Food flavoring
Food ingredient or component
Nutritional supplement (athletes, health-conscious individuals, etc.)
Dietary and nutritional therapy for individuals with compromised digestive systems and those with chronic illness
Contains many valuable nutrients, with high-quality marine protein and a balanced composition of essential amino acids and Omega-3 fatty acids
International interest - to enrich and enhance local food products available in stores and school and institutional meals
Increased utilization of harvested catch, capturing otherwise wasted nutrients
Functional value-added product with great nutritive qualities

18. PRODUCT, PROGRAM & MARKET EXPANSION International Interest
Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and other African countries used to canned fish
Herring is a good fit and fits with local tastes
Global Based Initiative
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal
McGovern Dole International Food for Education
Sri Lanka

19. Wild Alaska Seafood: In Demand
Wild Alaska Seafood low in fat, sodium, and calories – effective in weight management
Salmon & Herring - highest sources of naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids
Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, strengthen heart health, reduces blood pressure, support brain function and eye health
Protects the heart by reducing blood clotting and lowers risk of a major cardiovascular event
Quick and easy to prepare
Salmon has bone-building nutrients especially calcium and vitamin D
Superfood for athletes:  can help recover, heal and rebuild muscle by decreasing inflammation 

20. AGFAP in Action: Nutrition, Science & Policy
Translate state of the art evidence-base into foundations for policy and cutting edge products
We are focusing our efforts on harmonizing USG approaches to ensure only U.S. origin shelf-stable and frozen seafood products are included in all USG programs
Help modernize and consolidate ASMI nutrition messaging across all species, forms, and programs, both international and domestic to provide consumers with consistent, evidence-based information
Alaska Seafood is beneficial for areas suffering from the double-burden of undernutrition (obesity and malnutrition)

21. PRODUCT, PROGRAM & MARKET EXPANSION ….. WHAT’S NEXT ON THE HORIZON?
From Food Aid to Retail

22. Director, Global Food Aid Program
Thank You
All Hands Meeting 2018
Bruce Schactler
Director, Global Food Aid Program
Photo credit: Mandy Bridges