The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to purchase nearly 20,000 tons of pollock products, setting a new historical record.

According to the 127-page bidding document released by the USDA, the specific items to be procured are approximately 14.9 million pounds (6,760 tons) of pollock fillets, 14.6 million pounds (6,620 tons) of fish pieces, and 13.8 million pounds (6,260 tons) of fish sticks. If the contract is successfully awarded, this will be the largest single procurement of Alaska pollock by the USDA to date in terms of weight. This large-scale purchase reflects the growing role of federal food programs in supporting the domestic seafood supply chain. At the beginning of fiscal year 2025, the USDA has already invested over 58.285 million U.S. dollars to procure 26,099.9 million pounds (11.8 million tons) of Alaska pollock for the nutrition assistance distribution system. Over the past decade, the U.S. government has gradually become an important customer for pollock producers and other seafood industry players. Meanwhile, an initiative that the industry has been pushing for years is also ...