A call for product for the 27th annual Alaska Symphony of Seafood has been issued by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF). The competition is open to any company, domestic or foreign, which commercially produces value-added products and by-products made from Alaska seafood.
Products must have been developed within the last two years, be market-ready and fit into one of four categories: retail, foodservice, beyond the plate or beyond the egg. Products that could be considered retail or foodservice may enter either, but not both. All smoked products now compete in either the retail or foodservice categories.
To qualify for the Beyond the Plate category, products must be manufactured from seafood waste, or be byproducts of the primary processing. Beyond the Egg competition is reserved for products made from roe or uni.
All entries will be judged in Seattle, Wash., on Nov. 20 and rated according to packaging and presentation, overall eating experience – including aroma, flavor and texture, perceived value for niches in the market, and potential for commercial success.
First, second and third place winners will be selected from each contest category, and the product receiving the highest overall score will be awarded the 2020 grand prize.
First place winners in each category will receive a free booth space at the Seafood Expo North America, which runs from March 15–17 in Boston, Mass. The prize package also includes airfare for one company representative to attend the show, courtesy of Alaska Air Cargo.
AFDF will also host two open house Symphony events, in Seattle on Nov. 20 and in Juneau, Alaska on Feb. 24. Attendees will taste and vote for their favorite product to determine the winner of the “People’s Choice” award. The awards ceremony, will be held during the Juneau event.
Entry forms are available online at www.afdf.org/wp-content/uploads/asos-cfp-2020-2019-08-06.pdf. Completed forms and the $150 entry fee per item are due by Oct. 15.
More detailed information is available online at http://www.afdf.org/symphony-of-seafood/