Wild Alaskan Company, a direct to consumer sustainably-caught seafood membership firm, has donated over 95,000 pounds of individually-portioned, wild-caught salmon valued in excess of $1.4 million to the Food Bank of Alaska.
The contribution, a mix of both sockeye and coho species, comes as communities across Alaska face the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardships and ongoing food insecurity. A 2020 Northwestern University study showed that almost one in five Alaskans experiences food insecurity.
Arron Kallenberg, founder and CEO of Wild Alaskan Company, said that “there would be no Wild Alaskan Company without Alaska. We are fortunate to be in a position to give back to Alaskans during this time of need — so that’s what we did.”
TOTE Maritime Alaska facilitated the transportation and coordinated the delivery of the salmon to the Food Bank of Alaska, donating resources during a challenging time for the global supply chain.
Mike Reusser, chief operating office for the Food Bank of Alaska, said that food bank would be distributing the healthy protein to Alaskans in need of food assistance in partnership with 60 active Anchorage and Valley agency partners, the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank and its 40 active agency partners, as well as through our nine Anchorage Mobile Food Pantry distribution sites.
Reusser said that during the month of March the food bank received four trailer loads of the salmon, “a huge donation, a tremendous value, a real big deal for us.
“Usually we get donations of canned salmon,” he said. “Our freezer is nearly full. We are excited and grateful for it.”