Right Bite
Purveyors
Millions of pounds of seafood move through the Chicago market every month, providing the Midwest with a grand opportunity to make its mark on the sustainability movement. Many of Chicago's wholesalers care about the health of our waters and are enthusiastic supporters of the Right Bite program.
Right Bite purveyors receive staff training on seafood issues and marketing guidance provided by Shedd experts. We work closely with our partners to create programs that enlighten and encourage their customers to purchase sustainably. Shedd Aquarium is committed to helping local purveyors find and offer the highest quality and most environmentally friendly seafood available. Our wholesale partners know that we mean business when it comes to sustainable seafood, but they also know that we care about their business.
Our current Right Bite purveyor partners:
Fortune Fish Company
In 2007, Fortune Fish Company launched its sustainability initiative in partnership with Shedd. The company highlights a sustainable seafood every two months. For every pound of that fish sold, Fortune donates a portion of the revenue to not-for-profit conservation organizations. Fortune is also a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified purveyor.
The Plitt Company
The Plitt Company is the first purveyor in Chicago to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification. In 2008 the company won a prestigious Seafood Champion award for its sustainability efforts, which includes improving Gulf of Mexico red snapper management and supporting fishing families and cooperatives in Alaska.
The Seafood Merchants
The Right Bite team was thrilled to receive a call from The Seafood Merchants in 2008. They had been hearing concerns about seafood sustainability from their customers. Within weeks of our connection, Seafood Merchants began the process to become a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified purveyor.
Supreme Lobster
Kassia Perpich, sustainable seafood coordinator, insists her work day isn’t complete without a call from Supreme Lobster sales rep Carl Galvan (a.k.a. Chicago Fish Dude), who is full of great ideas for promoting sustainability. Check out Carl and the Right Bite team in this recent podcast about seafood in Chicago.
Need more information about Right Bite purveyor partnerships? Just e-mail us at rightbite@sheddaquarium.org.
Shedd recently traveled to Alaska with the Plitt Company to meet the famed Copper River salmon fishermen. We learned about the fishery from the Poole family, who spend their summers catching huge King and Chinook salmon from Alaska's icy waters for the Chicago market. Fishermen like the Pooles help make wild Alaska salmon a great sustainable choice.
