While shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico took to the waters on Monday for the beginning of the first commercial shrimp season since the BP oil spill disaster four months ago, Valley grocers and restaurant owners offered assurance that their shrimp will be safe to consume.
Giant Food Stores LLC is planning to procure shrimp from the Gulf region soon. According to Chris Brand, consumer affairs and community relations manager for the chain, the shelves should be stocked with a consistent supply of it, beginning in mid-September.
"We always work closely with our reputable suppliers to ensure that the product being harvested meets our rigid specifications and are harvested from federally inspected and approved waters," Brand said. "We do everything we can to ensure that we are protecting food safety and purchasing seafood from sustainable sources."
Dennis Curtin, director of public relations for Weis Markets Inc., said, "We're hearing that the inspection process is being stepped up in the Gulf."
Suppliers are making inspections on their own, as well, he said.
A very small percentage of the shrimp sold at Weis Markets comes from Gulf sources, such as the store's Signature Key West Shrimp, which is fished sustainably and comes from the Key West part of the Gulf, which, Curtin said, has not been impacted by the oil spill.
Brand said most of Giant's fresh snapper, tuna and swordfish comes from the lower Caribbean and Mexico regions, which have also not been affected by the spill. The stores also offer seafood from the coasts of Maryland and Virginia.
In anticipation of customers who will have questions and concerns, Brand said Giant store associates are regularly being provided with information.
While most of the seafood, including the shrimp, that is served at Ye Olde Meeting Place in Milton, comes from the Baltimore area, a small percentage of it is also purchased through food providers that obtain it from the Gulf region.
"We probably will again, if they say everything is safe," said owner Gary Smith. "We won't serve anything that isn't safe."
He said he will try it himself, if there are any concerns, to make sure it's OK.
BP's Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers and triggering a spill that eventually spewed 206 million gallons of oil into the Gulf waters, according to The Associated Press.
Shrimp prices immediately rose all across the nation as a result, as people feared it would soon be unavailable.
Smith estimates the prices for the seafood his restaurant purchases went up about a quarter as soon as the oil disaster happened.
"In general, demand for East Coast product is driving some prices up due to limited supply," added Brand.
The manager of Hoss's Steak & Sea House in Shamokin Dam said the restaurant has continued to sell a lot of shrimp.
Curtin said Weis Markets' shrimp sales are down slightly this year, and though the Gulf spill could be a reason, he blames the economy as well.
"Customers in general are very cautious with their spending these days," he said. "We've seen higher prices for shrimp — but while the Gulf spill is a factor, there have been production problems in other parts of the world which have significantly impacted the world's overall shrimp supply."
n E-mail comments to tpursell@dailyitem.com.
News
Sellers: Gulf shrimp will be safe to munch
Valley firms trust their suppliers
- News
-
-
Warden demotes four bosses
Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County.
-
Agency closes adult center
Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service.
-
New Berlin pushes to acquire school
The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
-
Second suit filed to stop sewer merger
It must have seemed like deja vu all over again Wednesday for some members of the Northumberland Sewer Authority, when for the second time in two weeks, former NSA Chairman Adam Klock filed a civil action against former board colleagues Jack Fasold, James Orner and Donald Troxell, alleging they held an illegal meeting -- this time on Monday -- where they voted to transfer the borough authority's assets to the merged North-Point Sewer Authority.
- Ex-judge, 3 others die in Fla.
-
NetHead
NetSummary
-
School grants in works
MILTON -- How school funds will be distributed through Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed block grant program, which combines four basic education budget lines, still needs to be worked out, the governor said at a press conference Wednesday.
-
Corbett: Low taxes help generate jobs
MILTON -- With a backdrop of Minuteman Environmental Services trucks and charts depicting state spending, Gov. Tom Corbett said Wednesday that his proposed fiscal 2012-13 budget is a realistic plan that will help create jobs while holding the line on spending.
-
Viking Energy to close April 1
NORTHUMBERLAND -- Unable to compete with the natural gas industry, the Viking Energy plant in Point Township will close April 1 and put 19 employees out of work.
-
Getting caffeine fix as easy as taking deep breath
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Move over, coffee and Red Bull. A Harvard professor thinks the next big thing will be people inhaling their caffeine from a lipstick-sized tube. Critics say the novel product is not without its risks.
-
Jerry Sandusky argues for local jurors, suggests delay
HARRISBURG — Jerry Sandusky wants jurors in his child sex-abuse trial to be chosen from the community where he lives and is suggesting a trial delay may be the best way to address the intense publicity generated by the case.
- More News Headlines
-
Warden demotes four bosses
