Global Food Collaborative

January 26, 2010

Kwik’pak Fisheries Launches ‘A Taste of the Yukon River’ in Houston;

Campaign Launch ‘A Great Success’

Ellen and Humphrey Keyes, an Alaskan fishing family from Emmonak are pictured at right and sharing their story of the Wild Yukon River salmon.

Kwik’pak Fisheries of Emmonak, Alaska (www.kwikpakfisheries.com) last week launched its wild Yukon River salmon in Houston, the first of several U.S. target cities chosen to celebrate wild Yukon River salmon—fished on the Lower Yukon River for thousands of years by the Yupik people and rich in beneficial Omega-3s. 

The kick-off event, “A Taste of the Yukon River,” took place at a private dinner at Houston restaurant, RDG + Bar Annie, where internationally acclaimed owner-chef Robert Del Grande prepared a five-course dinner—four of which featured Yukon River salmon.  The guest list included representatives from Kwik’pak; Houston-area journalists, trade press, and food writers; researchers and dietitians from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston; and representatives from Central Markets of Texas.  Cooking demonstrations featuring Yukon River Salmon were held the next day at Central Markets of Texas’ upscale Houston store, featuring an in-person visit by Ellen and Humphrey Keyes, a Yupik fishing family from Emmonak. 

Kwik’pak spokesperson Ruth Carter called the launch “a great success,” with local print and broadcast television coverage of both the salmon and the Yupik fishermen.  The Houston market has all the right demographics, Carter said, to become a strong market for wild Yukon River salmon all year ‘round, both in the supermarket and in restaurants.  “This is a health-conscious, educated market that is interested in delicious, nutritious, sustainable, and fully traceable salmon,” Carter said.  “Wild Yukon River salmon is all that—and more.”

Carter said the company plans to hold events in several U.S. cities this year to introduce the market to the fish and to tell the story of the Yupik people, “whose livelihoods depend upon this valuable fishery resource.”  To help ensure that the trade and consumers are purchasing genuine Yukon River salmon, Carter pointed out that Kwik’pak has partnered with the global food traceability company, Trace Register™ (www.traceregister.com).  Kwik’pak’s wild Yukon River salmon is the first food selected by the international non-profit organization, Oldways, for its newest initiative known as “The Traditional American Table.”

More Information Contact:

Ruth Carter 206-443-1565

Jeanne McKnight