Copper River Seafoods Named Alaska Manufacturer of the Year
Copper River Seafoods has been honored as Alaska’s Manufacturer of the Year for 2023, with the award being presented Aug. 6 in Anchorage.
Copper River was chosen for the honor by officials with Alaska’s Commerce, Community and Economic Development (CCED) department.
CCED Commissioner Julie Sande cited Copper River Seafoods, which has offices in Cordova and Anchorage, for its innovation in utilizing seafood byproducts and offcuts.
“By ensuring that the entire fish is marketable, not just the prime cuts of every filet, the company has reduced waste and created more value for the Alaska seafood resources they process,” Sande said.
Fourth generation harvester Scott Blake and three fellow commercial Alaska fishermen founded the company in 1996, and it has since grown to be a leader in Alaska’s wild seafood industry, with over 700 employes during the peak summer fishing season.
The company networks with harvesters statewide to acquire a variety of wild seafood, including halibut, rockfish, Pacific cod and salmon. It provides seafood for customers in Alaska, nationally and worldwide by collaborating with domestic delivery services including Vital Choice and Alaska Fresh, which provide director delivery to residents of premium Alaska Seafood.
Copper River Seafoods chief marketing officer Cassandra Squibb said the award is special “because it acknowledges our founders’ dedication to establishing our headquarters in Alaska, creating year-round jobs in the state’s seafood industry, and our commitment to manufacturing premium products locally.”
“By doing so,” she added, “we’re able to contribute to the local economy and supply the local market to ensure food security for our fellow Alaskans.”
Copper River Seafoods has become a key player in providing food security for Alaskans by supplying local food to local distributors, retailers and food service businesses in Alaska. Working in collaboration with the Anchorage School District, Copper River Seafoods was awarded a Partnership for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to boost the volume of local food served in Anchorage schools.
The ASD is one of only eight school districts nationwide to be awarded the grant. Through the grant program, Copper River Seafoods and the Anchorage School District are able to serve more wild Alaska seafood throughout Anchorage K-12 schools, DCCED officials said.
