October is National Seafood Month, best for Gulf shrimp, oysters, crab
For those looking for the best time of year to enjoy delicious domestic seafood, National Seafood Month officially takes place during October. Congress made this distinction 30 years ago to recognize one of America’s oldest industries.
If you are planning to enjoy some of the best seafood from restaurants and markets this month, make sure you are getting the best quality.
The easiest way to know the quality of your seafood is to know where it came from. A little research can go a long way, informing you of where your seafood is sourced. Locally sourced seafood tends to be more expensive, but dishes that are processed correctly are guaranteed to be the best quality available. Domestic seafood, whether wild or farmed, helps ensure seafood security through stricter regulations and testing of product. Aquaculture, in fact, is the fastest-growing agriculture industry in the United States.
Louisiana is Leading Seafood Producer in U.S.
In Louisiana, we enjoy seafood year round, not just in October. As one of the leading producers of seafood in the United States, the Gulf Coast accounts for 70% of the nation’s oysters, 69% of domestic shrimp, as well as a majority of hard and soft-shell blue crabs. The Gulf Coast waters provide a nutrient-rich environment allowing the seafood in this area to develop a superior taste, and October is the perfect month to take advantage of fresh Gulf Coast seafood.
Oysters spawn year round in the Gulf due to the warm weather. But fall is the beginning of Oyster season. Oysters that are shucked in the colder months are more plump and have a more desirable lean, firm texture and bright briny flavor.
Louisiana blue crabs and shrimp are both available year round, so they are guaranteed to taste as delicious as always during National Seafood Month.
Although it’s recommended Americans consume seafood at least twice a week as part of a healthy diet, the USDA Guidelines say that only 1 in 10 of Americans are actually doing so. Eating fish has also been associated with a 36% reduction in death from heart disease, and seafood contains important proteins, nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Domestic Seafood and Millennials
One of the largest purchasing groups in the United States, Millennials, are making a strong effort to eat more domestic seafood. Seventy-four percent of Millennial households shop in fresh seafood departments when buying food for home. It goes further than just being concerned about the nutritional benefits of their food options. Consumers want to know if their food has been locally sourced as they are increasingly aware of the impact their choices have on our environment.
Louisiana Wild Seafood Certified
Deanie’s Seafood is proud to support our local fishing industry, and we use quality ingredients, original recipes, combined with the best wild and local seafood available. Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants participate voluntarily in the Louisiana Seafood Certification program. The “Certified Authentic Louisiana Wild Seafood” seal guarantees that seafood bearing this label is caught in the Gulf of Mexico or Gulf Coast State waters by licensed fisherman and is landed, processed, and packaged locally in Louisiana.
Deanie’s offers a wide variety of dishes that can meet any seafood needs—from BBQ Shrimp, to Crawfish Etouffee, to Crabmeat Au Gratin to fresh Louisiana oysters and Blue Crab. You can also {{cta(‘1c0e7daa-b754-42a9-9841-9858933dbf61’)}} We’ll ship gulf shrimp, blue crabs, oysters, prepared seafood items like our seafood gumbo and stuffed artichokes overnight to anywhere in the Continental United States.
Whether you’re cooking a new seafood recipe at home, or enjoying a meal with family or friends at a local seafood restaurant, take the time to experience something new for National Seafood Month!