The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking bids from seafood suppliers for over 21 million pounds of Alaska pollock, along with significant quantities of domestic shrimp and catfish. The pollock purchase—one of the largest in USDA history—will supply food banks and nutrition programs across the country.
Suppliers have until 27 February to submit offers for pollock fillets, nuggets, and sticks, with deliveries scheduled between April and June 2025. The bid request follows a similar purchase in June 2023, when the USDA bought 22.8 million pounds of pollock.
In addition to pollock, the agency is requesting bids on 6.57 million pounds of domestic farmed catfish and 232,500 cases of peeled and deveined shrimp, also due by 27 February. Catfish deliveries will take place from April to July.
The USDA’s large procurement aligns with its commitment to supporting the seafood industry and food assistance programs. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) previously announced the agency’s plan to purchase $50 million worth of Alaska pollock in 2025. The move is expected to provide stability to the pollock sector, which has been facing price and market challenges.