The Catfish Institute celebrates U.S. catfish farmers!
To honor the hard work of U.S. catfish farmers, and their efforts to provide consumers with a healthy, safe and great-tasting product, the month of August was designated in the late 1980s as National Catfish Month.
Each year, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi – the four states that produce the majority of the nation’s catfish – recognize one of their most respected and successful farmers per state as “Catfish Farmer of the Year.” The Catfish Institute (TCI), the marketing arm of the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish industry, is once again featuring these four farmers in a new national advertising campaign. The print ads debut during National Catfish Month in publications including Cooking With Paula Deen and Saveur, among others.
The 2009 Catfish Farmers of the Year include: Townsend Kyser of Greensboro, Ala.; Dennington Moss of Lake Village, Ark.; Brandon Haring of Wisner, La., and Joe Ogelsby of Indianola, Miss.
“These leading producers are very deserving of national recognition due to their contributions to our industry,” said TCI president Roger Barlow. “They have worked hard to create a healthy, home-grown product – U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish – and we are proud to feature these outstanding American farmers in our new marketing campaign.”
In addition to the Farmers of the Year, TCI’s new campaign features recipe photography and draws attention to the fish’s versatility, as well as healthful and earth-friendly attributes.
New C.O.O.L. Legislation for Catfish
On the legislative front, The Catfish Institute and Catfish Farmers of America successfully lobbied for the passage of new Country-Of-Origin Labeling (C.O.O.L.) laws for catfish sold in restaurants in Alabama and Louisiana. In the wake of food safety scares with imported fish, these measures ensure consumers have the facts necessary to make healthy decisions for their families.
This new legislation follows on the heels of Mississippi’s successful catfish labeling law, which was enacted in July 2008. The Alabama and Louisiana measures will take effect this summer and require that the country of origin of all catfish be stated on the menu or on a prominently located placard or tabletop display.
“American consumers know that U.S. farmers provide the highest quality food the world has to offer,” said Barlow. “Given the choice, an overwhelming majority will always prefer to eat U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish. This new legislation ensures that restaurant patrons are able to make that choice by having the origin of the catfish identified on the menu. This August, when we are in the grocery store or dining out, we need to remember to support our hard-working U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish producers.”
For more information about U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, please visit www.UScatfish.com.
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