Officials with the Alaska
Fisheries Development Foundation in Anchorage have rescheduled events for the
2020-2021 Alaska Symphony of Seafood competition to the spring of 2021 over
concerns prompted by the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an announcement on
Monday, Sept. 21, AFDF said that given the uncertainty of the pandemic they
plan to inform interested entrants about the next event format, product
quantities and delivery information when more information is available on the
format of scheduled events.
The popular competition
among seafood processors large and small normally includes a gala in Seattle in
November, where entries in the retail, food service and smoked seafood
competition, are judged and paid guests at the gala vote on their favorite
entries.
The competition has varied
somewhat in past years, for a while including also pet foods and products made
from seafood byproducts, from nutritional supplements to salmon leather
wallets.
The grand prize winner one
year was Yummy Chummies, salmon-based treats for dogs and cats in a variety of
flavors. Then in February in Juneau,
Alaska, AFDF sponsors a gala for the Alaska Legislature, which is in session,
and announces prize winners in each competition, the winning choices of
People’s Choice in both galas, and the grand prize winner. First place winners
as well as People’s Choice winners in the past have been granted round trip air
fare and booth space in the Alaska section of Seafood Expo North America in
Boston. The Symphony has helped competition winners launch many products nationwide
in both the retail and food service sectors.
Major sponsors of the
2019-2020 events included Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood
Development Association, Lineage Logistics, Trident Seafoods, Marine
Stewardship Council, Northwest Fisheries Association, Alaska Air Cargo, At-Sea
Processors Association and the United Fishermen of Alaska.