Usda announces usd 100 million in pollock, catfish contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced contracts for USD 84 million (EUR 72 million) worth of Alaska pollock products and USD 14 million (EUR 12 million) worth of catfish products.

In August, the department announced its intention to purchase USD 100 million (EUR 86 million) worth of Alaska pollock and USD 20 million (EUR 17 million) of catfish as part of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump's Great American Farmers Market, an event in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., held as part of National Farmers Market Week last month.

“Today’s announcement continues to prioritize American commodities for families and communities in need. On the eve of the Great American Farmers Market, USDA is proud to play a role in not only connecting smaller, local farmers to families, but doing its part to Make America Healthy Again,” Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement. “This is yet another action by President Trump to improve the livelihoods of the American people. The Trump administration has delivered historic tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill, boosted the farm safety net, and is ensuring American agriculture will be strong, secure, and resilient for generations to come.”

The USDA ultimately decided not to award contracts for 38,000 pounds of frozen pollock nuggets and 8,436,000 pounds of frozen pollock fillets “due to price considerations.”

The announcement brings USDA purchases of Alaska pollock to roughly USD 144 million (EUR 123 million) for 2025, marking the largest amount of pollock bought by the department in a single year. The previous record was the USD 76.3 million (EUR 65.9 million) spent on pollock products in fiscal year 2019.

Braintree, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Channel Fish Processing was the biggest winner, receiving contracts worth USD 35 million (EUR 30 million) for frozen pollock nuggets, fillets, and sticks. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A.-based High Liner was awarded USD 34 million (EUR 29 million) for frozen pollock nuggets and sticks. Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Trident Seafoods was awarded USD 14.7 million (EUR 12.6 million) for frozen pollock nuggets, fillets, and sticks.

The seafood products will be distributed through federal domestic food distribution programs, with deliveries taking place between November 2025 and December 2026.

The USDA’s separate purchase of USD 14 million worth of domestic catfish was split between six suppliers. Itta Bena, Mississippi, U.S.A.-based Americas Catch was awarded USD 2.4 million (EUR 2 million); Isola, Mississippi-based Consolidated Catfish was awarded USD 2.6 million (EUR 2.2 million); Itta Bena-based Heartland Catfish was awarded USD 5.5 million (EUR 4.7 million); Tunica, Mississippi-based Magnolia Processing was awarded USD 1.8 million (EUR 1.5 million); Cecilia, Louisiana, U.S.A.-based Ocean Select Seafood was awarded USD 1 million (EUR 855,000); and Yazoo City, Mississippi-based Simmons Farm Raised Catfish was awarded USD 797,240 (EUR 681,860).

The department opted not to go through with the purchase of an additional 1,596,000 pounds of raw catfish fillets “due to price considerations.”