Submitted by: Bellingham Whole Foods Market
Seafood ratings at grocery stores are now commonplace. What do these ratings mean to a consumer and how should they inform shopping habits? Whole Foods Market is taking the guesswork out of Seafood shopping for their customers by doing the research for them and only offering fresh and farmed seafood from responsibly managed farms and fisheries. By partnering with the Marine Stewardship Council, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and the Safina Center, Whole Foods Market receives third party verification of an extensive list of seafood standards from water quality to feed, for both fresh and farmed seafood.
Eighty percent of the world’s marine populations are fully fished, overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion. This is why Whole Foods Market spent two years of extensive research reviewing available aquaculture science and consulting with the top environmental organizations and the most innovative farms worldwide to develop their Seafood Standards.
Many people are concerned about farm raised seafood, which is why Whole Foods Market decided to invest in aquaculture done right. By only partnering with vendors who participate in scrutinous third party verification, Whole Foods Market is able to offer shoppers sustainably farmed fish including shrimp, tilapia, arctic char and mollusks, among others. Why do they offer farmed seafood? Because farmed seafood can provide consistent, high-quality, year-round supply of an alternative protein.
Here are some things that you will NOT find in Whole Foods Market seafood department:
- Antibiotics, growth hormones or poultry and mammalian products in feed
- Genetically modified or cloned seafood
- Added preservatives
Additionally, all farmed fish have a minimal environmental impact, are traceable from farm to store and have undergone rigorous third-party audits.
Next time you are in Whole Foods Market, ask the Fish Monger about the Seafood Standards and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have. To learn about other services their Fish Mongers provide, check out Whole Foods Market’s Blog.
Whole Foods Market Bellingham is located at the corner of Lakeway and Lincoln. The store is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sales, coupons, events and more at wfm.com/bellinghamlakeway.
Written by: Olivia Yates, Whole Foods Market
