2015 for us was a bittersweet year, we broke through some long-standing barriers, hit new ones, and kept moving forward. Most tragically, we lost our loyal delivery driver Dustin Allen. Dustin was a gentle soul, highly intelligent, a pleasure to be around and we miss him greatly.
Our hatchery finally had the breakthrough success we have been pulling for, with a massive crop of European Flat oyster seed. Look for the return of flats 2-U in the months ahead and steadily building abundance in the years ahead.
2015 was a decent, if unorthodox year on the farm. Our grain failed, and summer was mighty crispy, but we are producing the best meats of our career. This past week our cattle have been producing calves--look for photos soon!!!
Fish sourcing and sales has been becoming more fun by the week. New products, new customers, we feel extremely blessed to work with folks who share our passion. on all sides of the supply chain.
Crab Pricing Update
Washington and Oregon Coastal crabbing opens on the Fourth, and Southern California opened on the First, after a six week delay to allow elevated levels of domoic acid to clear. Domoic Acid is to crab as red tide is to shellfish--a naturally occurring compound in a particular algae. The acid is harmless for crab, but troublesome to crab predators, including humans. This past fall once California announced the season would not open as scheduled, crab prices soared. Washington's coastal tribal fishery opened as scheduled, but low production from the coastal tribes didn't do much to bring prices down.
Now pricing is falling hard, and we are very excited.
Most distributors working in Seattle sell inferior coastal crab to Seattle customers when available and most Puget Sound crab is shipped elsewhere. We only sell Puget Sound crab. When comparing pricing and, please keep in mind that Puget Sound crab has much higher meat yields, superior flavor and texture. This is why Puget Sound Crab is the crab of choice for discriminating consumers from Shanghai to Urumqi.
1.35 Billion Chinese can't be wrong, Puget Sound has the best.
Pricing will likely remain down for three weeks, then begin to climb in anticipation of Chinese New Year. This year Chinese New Year is Feb. 8. This holiday generally marks the highest pricing of the season, but with the slowing Chinese economy, increased restrictions on imports of foreign food, and a frontloaded California, Oregon and Washington fishery with cumulative quota somewhere in the 70 million pounds range, the future is anyone's guess. So enjoy the low-priced bounty now, and stay loose for changes ahead.
But will they taste as sweet/this week/at half the price?
Many of you will have been following news of the giant Blob of warm water lurking off the Pacific Coast these past two years. This Blob remained oddly fixed due to uniquely static atmospheric conditions over the North Pacific. Within natural variability, the Blob would be considered a once-in-a-millenium circumstance. Meanwhile, a building El Nino has been widely reported and was expected to accentuate the relatively static and warmer than average weather we have been experiencing.Below is a Sea Temp Anomaly map from July with the blob in full tilt. Yellows, oranges and reds indicate warmer than average temps in a given zone.
Portrait of a Blob In Summer.
El Nino warm water events typically hug the coast at around 20 miles offshore. The Blob stretched pretty much across the entire North Pacific. Impacts on fisheries and ocean life have been notable, from the domoic acid outbreaks to a poor albacore season. Last fall a raft of warmer-water fish cruised the Washington Coast and further north, including Sunfish, Louvar and Bluefin Tuna.
Howdy, stranger, Which way to the Space Needle?
How the Blob relates to Local FishOther than the odd, novelty Louvar, the Blob has had mixed impacts on local fish stocks and fish availability. Interestingly, the Blob has straddled the two all-time record years for Alaska Salmon production, 2013 and 2015, though average fish size has been down substantially. Impacts on Washington salmon have been more troublesome--Chinook has been very abundant the past few years, chum salmon have done better than expectations, Sockeye have been a mixed bag as have Pink salmon, with early returns doing well, most notably the Baker River, and late runs faring badly, most notably the Fraser, while Coho have suffered very poor returns. Groundfish and shellfish have done well under the Blob and Puget Sound crab has been extraordinarily abundant, while Coastal crab has lagged. By standard theory with a combination of the Blob and El Nino, we were supposed to have had a relatively calm, relatively dry and relatively warm winter. In fact, we have had an exceptionally wet, extraordinarily windy and colder than average winter. We have been lashed with one storm after another, all fall long. One of the South-Eastern wind storms tore the gutters off our house. Local fish has been very difficult this fall, to the point that the coastal tribes were unable to mop up the Blackcod quota, with something like 60,000# uncaught, for the first time in a very long time.
Blob No More
Come to find out, the unsettled weather represented the death throes of the Blob. The Blob is now officially gone, our weather has become serene, dry, and cold. Fishing should be as steady as it gets for January. The problem is that January is the slowest month of the year for local fisheries by virtue of how seasons are structured.
Moving forward, El Nino may or may not be good for our water-bound friends. But at least the Blob is gone.
Below is the most recent Weekly Anomaly map. Note the cooler waters in our neck of the sea and the classic El Nino belt of warm water along the Mexican and California Coast.
Blob Be Gone.
Local Fish Roundup
Local Fish Roundup
Local groundfish will be available in fits and starts, throughout this month. The Alaska winter troll season is in full tilt, and participation is rising now that the weather has moderated. Our friends at the Makah Nation have been open for winter trolling, but have been kept in port by weather until now. Look for a limited but ongoing trickle of fresh troll kings.
Urchin availability is excellent, but the quota is coming to a close--we don't expect product to last much longer than then end of the month. Urchins are getting a touch spawny, but flavor and color are still excellent. We have been getting tremendous feedback on the tubbed uni. Our diver asks that he have a week's lead time on this product. Order now!
Ono, don't let this one slip by- Wahoo!
Our favorite Hawaiian Fish, on SpecialFresh Ono Filet, Branzini Yes!, Tai Snapper Yes!
Rhode Island Fishes make New Years Wishes
We will continue to have all the RI fishes you have come to love these past weeks, plus, as seasons open on the far side of the rock, we will continue to bring you novelty and quality. This week it is Black Sea Bass and Conger Eel. Black Bass is a mainstay of Eastern fish circles, has lean, white flesh with a moderately firm texture, small flakes and a delicate flavor. It is a terrific fish prepared whole. The skin is edible (if descaled). Be the first on your block!Conger Eels can grow up to 20' long, the Conger is considered the grail of hipster fish cookery in NYC. Our Rhode Island friends say NYC chefs "fight over" conger eels. Conger is a first for us. They are also considered one of the most dangerous fish in the sea for divers with an impressive array of needle-sharp teeth. Dried and cured, the skin also makes nice wallets or fine cowboy boots. Rhode Island Baymen take their lives in their hands to bring you this special fish!! Don't let them down!Also, Fluke has been a bit of a push for us, and we don't understand why. This is a very special flatfish. Try some this week!
We love new fishes! Conger Eel at home
For 2016, as before, we are your loyal JFF Crew. Just an e-mail, call or text away.
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