| Seafood remains popular as consumers look for | | | | and rushed to port, then flash-frozen and sent to |
| simple, healthy meal choices. The benefits of eating | | | | retailers. Of particular interest to gourmet cooks are |
| fish and other seafood are being reported almost daily, | | | | frozen fish in vacuum packaging or coated with a |
| with governments all over the planet endorsing | | | | protective coating of ice. |
| seafood as an essential part of a healthy diet. In | | | | Smoked and dried fish is another delicious product that |
| addition to health benefits, consumers like the ease of | | | | is widely available. Smoking enhances flavor, |
| preparation, versatility and rich flavor that seafood | | | | concentrates beneficial fish oils and preserves fish. |
| offers. When choosing main courses, these attributes | | | | Vacuum packaging protects the product and |
| make fish and seafood an excellent addition to weekly | | | | eliminates the need for refrigeration. Many of the most |
| meal plans. | | | | sought after and respected seafood recipes include |
| Fish and seafood is available in a myriad of forms. | | | | smoked products such as wild salmon, char, cod, |
| Seafood markets and other outlets offer fresh fish, | | | | haddock, saithe, mackerel, herring, dogfish and other |
| often just hours from being caught. Surprisingly, | | | | species of fish. Standard smoked products are |
| extremely fresh seafood can be purchased online. | | | | available in most retail outlets while gourmet products |
| Items are immediately cleaned and prepared to cook | | | | can be found in specialty shops or via online seafood |
| then rushed to the purchaser, packed in dry ice which | | | | stores. As with other fish, premium product is |
| keeps the product chilled during shipment. A few | | | | sometimes available direct from the fishermen. |
| specialty online stores even ship live crustaceans, and | | | | Surprisingly, even canned seafood can be of |
| mollusks in special containers that insures the precious | | | | impeccable quality. Canned seafood does not need |
| cargo will arrive in peak condition. Popular live shipped | | | | refrigeration and can be stored for months or longer. |
| seafood includes lobsters, crabs, oysters, scallops, | | | | Everyone is familiar with canned tuna, but there are |
| clams, mussels and other shellfish. | | | | plenty of other canned seafood products, many of |
| Another choice for buying fresh seafood is to join a | | | | which are delicious, healthy and easy to prepare. |
| community catch share program. These innovative | | | | Canned fish and other seafood is available in a variety |
| marketing plans provide a means of connecting | | | | of forms, from large sizes down to single serving |
| consumers to fishermen. Members pay a fee in | | | | travel containers. Non-traditional packaging is also |
| advance for a specified amount of seafood. When | | | | offered, with pouches being a frequent choice for |
| harvesting occurs, members are notified and arrive to | | | | consumers. Some of the most popular fish species |
| pick up the freshest seafood imaginable, virtually right | | | | available as canned products include tuna, salmon, |
| off the boat. Community catch share programs are an | | | | anchovies, sardines, herring and other well known fish. |
| excellent way to get quantities of exceptional quality | | | | Other seafood offered as canned products includes |
| seafood at a reduced price. | | | | crab meat, lobster meat, oysters, clams, mussels, |
| Frozen products are an excellent choice when | | | | cockles, cold water shrimp and others. |
| purchasing seafood. Frozen fish and shellfish are | | | | With such an array of options, it is easier than ever to |
| available not only from seafood markets, but at | | | | enjoy seafood at home. Be it fresh lobsters, smoked |
| practically any grocery or specialty food store. Frozen | | | | salmon or canned chowders, an option is available for |
| products are usually harvested, processed and flash | | | | every occasion, diet and price range. |
| frozen, sometimes at sea. Other species can be iced | | | | |