Bon Appétit and Seafood Watch to Host Twitter Chat on #localfish

Written by Bon Appétit Team on September 19, 2012in Community, Events, Featured, Local food, seafood - 0 Comments

Many Americans now know the names of the farms that grow their food, but even as we’re urged to eat more seafood for its health benefits, few of us can identify local species or the fishing operations that supply them. These overlooked fish are important to our regional food traditions, and deserve to share the culinary limelight with heirloom vegetables, farmstead cheeses, and pastured meats.

The time is ripe for local fish. On September 25, Bon Appétit Management Company will host its first-ever Eat Local (Fish) Challenge, to be held simultaneously in all 32 states in which we operate. The event is a new twist on our Eat Local Challenge, which began in 2005 as a way to highlight locally harvested, seasonal flavors.

“Local” doesn’t always equal sustainable, however, whether you’re talking about peaches or perch. That’s where Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch comes in. Conscientious consumers have long depended on the science-based red (Avoid), yellow (Good Alternative), and green (Best Choice) ratings of Seafood Watch’s wallet cards and smartphone apps. Some local fisheries are too small to have been among the thousands rated by Seafood Watch. The nonprofit is launching an innovative new program that will train scientists in its methodology so that third parties — such as Bon Appétit — can apply to have a species (and its catch methods) assessed and rated.

Please join @bamco and @seafoodwatch for a Twitter chat about #localfish on Monday, September 24, at 12pm Pacific.

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