Wegmans Food Markets starts selling farm-raised shrimp from Belize that meets environmental standards

Karen Miltner
Staff writer

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has started selling farmed shrimp that meets rigid new environmental and health standards.

The new purchasing policy, developed with Environmental Defense, a national environmental advocacy organization, bans antibiotics and other chemicals, protects coastal wetlands, treats waste water to prevent soil and groundwater pollution and minimizes the amount of wild-caught fish used as feed.

The new policy requires farmed shrimp producers to meet nine of 12 program standards immediately, then all 12 within a year, says Wegmans spokeswoman Jeanne Colleluori. Wegmans is buying this eco-friendlier shrimp from an aquaculture operation in Belize.

Disease, habitat destruction and effluence of chemicals used to treat shrimp ponds have been major problems since the 1990s when the shrimp farming industry underwent rapid expansion, says Corey Peet, aquaculture research analyst at the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Initiative.

"The ... industry has changed a lot. I won't say it's sustainable but it is moving in positive directions,' Peet adds.

Shrimp is the most widely consumed seafood in the United States. China is the world's largest supplier of farmed shrimp, followed by Southeast Asia and then South America.

Wegmans' farm-raised shrimp from Belize is available throughout the Wegmans chain in 31- to 35-count per pound. It sells for $7.99 a pound in the seafood service case. Like most shrimp, it is frozen shortly after harvesting.

About a year and half ago, Wegmans introduced a farm-raised king salmon that also followed guidelines developed with Environmental Defense. Shortly after the policy was announced, the original supplier was then sold and the new owner discontinued the standards. Wegmans is now sourcing farmed king salmon from a different British Columbia producer, which is working toward (but has not yet met) the purchasing policy's criteria, said Colleluori.

In September, Wegmans also introduced a new Chilean seabass that is certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, an international organization that promotes environmentally responsible fishing. Wegmans sells the seabass in its service case for $19.99 a pound. It is also available frozen for $14.99 a pound.

KMILTNER@DemocratandChronicle.com