Alaska Symphony of Seafood: 2024 Call for Products

AFDF is proud to announce the 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood & 30th Anniversary! Entries for the 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood are being accepted through October 7, 2023.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ENTERING, CLICK HERE.

Since 1994, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation (AFDF) has conducted the Alaska Symphony of Seafood celebrating creative products made from Alaska seafood. The purpose of the event is to encourage and promote the development of value-added products made from fisheries resources taken from the pristine waters of Alaska. This year we have four categories: Retail, Foodservice, Beyond the Plate and Around the Plate. Additionally, products will be eligible to win eight special awards: Seattle People's Choice, Juneau People's Choice, Bristol Bay Choice, Whitefish Choice, Salmon Choice, Best Packaging, Best Grab & Go, and the coveted Grand Prize.

BBRSDA is a proud sponsor of the Alaska Symphony of Seafood, as a platform to highlight new products which can become tomorrow’s major sources of consumer demand for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon. The contest is also a great resource for companies of all sizes to capitalize on innovative products, such as Thunder’s Catch who won the Bristol Bay Choice, Juneau People’s Choice, and a Seafood Excellence award last year. Peter Pan Seafoods hit a home run with their first Symphony entry, taking home the Grand Prize award for their Wild Caught Alaska Sockeye Salmon with Ribbon Kelp Chimichurri.

AFDF also has excellent resources available to help people turn seafood ideas into successful seafood products. Their Startup Accelerator has supported more than 16 startup companies and provides customized support services to companies seeking to raise the value of Alaska’s fishery resources. AFDF also has a handy guide for business services to help entrepreneurs find services for design, packaging, logistics, brokering, custom processing, cold storage, fulfillment, food science, and financing.

The Alaska Symphony of Seafood begins with the private judging of qualified entries in Seattle on November 7, 2023. All products will be prepared and displayed by professional culinary staff. Following the judging, an Open House will be held for all entrants, seafood industry invitees, sponsors, the press and the judges. The next event will be an awards ceremony in Juneau on February 21, 2024, allowing the display and sampling of products by the Alaska Legislature and other special guests. Again this year, first place winners in each category will also be entered into the Seafood Expo North America (SENA) competition for new products, called the Seafood Excellence Award.

In order to participate in the Alaska Symphony of Seafood, your product must be market ready and in commercial production by the date of the event. First place winners from each category are sent to SENA in Boston in March, 2024. Additionally, if your product wins any category or special award, including People’s Choice or the Grand Prize, you will be able to market your product as an Alaska Symphony of Seafood winner, helping to distinguish it from others as a high-quality product. After the contest is over, you will also receive the judges’ scores and comments about your product. This kind of feedback is invaluable to any new product development effort.

The Alaska Symphony of Seafood enjoys excellent coverage by national and international seafood trade publications. You can view the catalog of the 2023 entrants and winners as a download or online. For anyone interested in Alaska seafood, the renowned Alaska Symphony of Seafood is a great way to learn about the extraordinary efforts the industry has made to develop value-added products, to reduce fish waste, and to increase the value of Alaska’s seafood.

From start to finish, the Alaska Symphony of Seafood offers a platform to publicize new quality products, promote innovation and utilization, and help expand markets for products made from Alaska seafood. We look forward to having your products participate in this exciting event!

BBRSDA encourages companies of all sizes to enter sockeye salmon products in the Alaska Symphony of Seafood. Even if you just have a great idea for a seafood product or recipe but don’t want to take on the big challenge of starting your own company, consider approaching other companies about collaborating. Here’s a guide to producing value-added products.