FMI Introduces Industry Toolkit on Sustainable Seafood Sourcing

At the FMI2012 Sustainability Solutions Center in Dallas this week, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) issued its first Sustainable Seafood Toolkit, a free resource offering food retailers answers to the integration and implementation of seafood sustainability procurement policies and procedures.

“Selling fresh seafood in grocery stores certainly isn’t a new concept, with more than 92 percent1 of retailers offering this product, but the sustainable seafood trend is, and it’s growing,” noted Jeanne von Zastrow, senior director of sustainability and industry relations at Arlington, Va.-based FMI. “In order to be on trend with consumer demand, FMI has created this comprehensive document to get our industry thinking about how seafood relates to a company’s social responsibility, consumer interests and bottom line.”

Devised by FMI’s Sustainable Seafood Committee (SSC) and funded by San Diego-based Bumblebee Foods LLC, the guidance document provides industry expertise on how to retailers should approach sustainable seafood sourcing, including steps for development and implementation in regard to data collection, procurement, education and reform. The toolkit features best practices and case studies among retailers, suppliers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).