The deadline is fast approaching for product entries for the
2016 Alaska Symphony of Seafood, with the winners to be announced at the
symphony’s Anchorage gala on Feb. 19.
The annual event, organized by the Alaska Fisheries
Development Foundation to promote value-added product development the state’s
wild seafood resources, dates back to 1993. AFDF itself is a private,
non-profit entity created in 1978 to promote further development of Alaska’s
seafood industry.
Entries this year will be grouped into one of four
categories: the new Beyond the Egg, Beyond the Plate, retail and food service.
Beyond the Egg will include products made with roe or uni,
such as jarred ikura, herring roe-on-kelp, uni paste or uni crème brulee.
Last year’s grand prize winner, in the Beyond the Plate
category, was Yummy Chummies, a popular salmon-based pet snack created in
Anchorage by Arctic Paws.
Smoked seafood entries, which formerly were in a separate
category, are now judged either as retail or food service entries.
Each entry is evaluated based on the product’s packing and
presentation, overall eating experience, price and potential for commercial
success.
Industry supporters and others who attend the symphony galas
on Feb. 10th in Seattle, Feb. 16th in Juneau and Feb. 19th in Anchorage also
get to vote for their favorite entry for the People’s Choice award.
Winners in each category will get round-trip airfare to the
Seafood Expo North America in Boston this coming spring, to display and promote
their product.
More information about the Alaska Symphony of Seafood is at www.afdf.org/sympony-of-seafood/