Featured Ingredient: Wild Spot Shrimp
Whether you throw them on the barbecue, add them to a stew, or enjoy with cocktail sauce, nothing pairs with the warmer months quite like fresh wild spot shrimp. Makes sense, as these seasonal delicacies are only available in the summer.
If you’re unfamiliar with spot shrimp, you may know them by their other names, prawns or spot prawns. In the United States, their habitat extends from Southern California to Alaska's Aleutian Islands. They can also be found around the Sea of Japan and the Korea Strait.
We love a low impact, environmentally sustainable product, and the spot shrimp fishery along the U.S. West Coast is considered to have some of the lowest environmental impacts of all shrimp fisheries. According to fishsource.org, there are several reasons for this, including:
The ecological sensitivity of spot prawns and their critical habitat has been recognized and reflected in most of the fishery’s management
The fishery is primarily a community-based fishery, with a great deal of fisher involvement in management
The high-value and expanding markets for spot prawn product lead to a greater “value” placed on the conservation and sustainability of the species
Managers commonly recognize that constant refinement and improvement of the management system is a prerequisite for long-term sustainability
It’s no secret that the commercial fishing industry has come under fire for its negative impacts on marine ecosystems, which is why the Neighborhood Farmers Markets only works with small scale, sustainable fisheries based locally. It’s always a good idea to educate yourself about favorite ingredients from the sea so you can source responsibly. Organizations like Fish Source, and Seafood Watch are great places to learn more. Seafood Watch has given spot shrimp a yellow or "good alternative" rating, so you can purchase this summertime treat with a clean conscious.
Wild Alaskan Spot Shrimp are currently available to order on the University District Online Farmers Market! Simply log in to WhatsGood, shop your favorite market goods in one transaction, and pick up on Saturday. Skip the market line and get going!