Tilapia: The Family-Friendly Fish
Nutritionist Susan Greeley, MS, RD, recently published an article about our tilapia!
In a world where more than 70 percent of the globe is covered with water, fish is a readily available food. As consumers catch on to its health benefits; however, the global demand for fish is steadily increasing while our seas are being overfished. As a fish eater myself and mother of four looking to feed my family right, I've looked into what sources provide "family friendly" fish from nutritional, environmental, and consumer standpoints. I'm voting for farmed tilapia on this one for several reasons.
Tilapia Helps Battle the Bulge
When looking for lean protein sources, it's hard to beat tilapia. It's low in calories and fat but still offers some "good" omega-3 fatty acids. Tilapia's nutrient profile makes it a great choice for a satisfying, delicious fish that won't expand your waistline. A healthy 6-ounce serving has under 200 calories with 34 grams of protein. What's more, a recent study in the Journal of Functional Foods suggests that fish protein may suppress appetite by stimulating the release of certain peptides during digestion that are known to decrease appetite. For years, dieters and weight-conscious consumers have been choosing fish over beef for its lower calorie and saturated fat content, but if eating fish can help reduce overeating, its potential weight lost and weight management benefits could be invaluable.
Sustainability: Choose Tilapia
In researching sustainable fish, I've found that responsible aquaculture, such as that used in Ecuador (where we get most of our farmed tilapia in the U.S.), provides one of the safest (non-contaminated) and most Earth-friendly fish around. Fish is raised in a low-density environment that allows them to grow in a stress- and disease-free environment, eliminating the need for chemicals and antibiotics. In other words, farmed tilapia is a smart food choice for a fresh fish that keeps the planet and us healthy. Read more about sustainability of tilapia here. http://eattilapia.com/sustainability/
Consumers Reap Benefits of Tilapia
In addition to being safe and healthful nutritionally, farm-raised tilapia is a family-friendly fish. It's more affordable than wild-caught fish -- a factor that ranks high on the list of what matters most to cost-conscious consumers. That's good news for families on a tight budget that don't want to sacrifice nutrition and health.
When it comes to eating fish, tilapia is also a favorite because of its mild flavor and texture. The fillets are a great pick for kids since they have no bones. What parents appreciate is that tilapia fillets on the table help make dinner stress-free -- no choking worries or food wasted!
Go (Outdoor) Gourmet
Winter is over, and as we move to more outdoor living, this easy recipe [Summer Garden Tilapia] can be made on the grill, a campfire or in the kitchen. Use local or even home-grown herbs and tomatoes if you have them. Either way, this simple, fresh fish dish is sure to please the whole family -- and it can help keep you out of the kitchen on warm weather days!
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European Seafood Exposition
April 24th-26th our sister company, Tropical Europe, will be exhibiting at 20th edition of the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels, Belgium. This event is the largest of it's kind in the seafood community and it brings buyers and sellers from all over the world with over 1,600 companies exhibiting from more than 70 countries.
"These exhibitions offer an excellent opportunity for the international seafood community to meet and learn updated information on what is changing in the industry on a global basis," said Mary Larkin, Vice-President of Seafood Expositions for Diversified Business Communications.
At this year's event, Tropical Europe will showcase our sustainably certified Ecuadorian Saltwater Tilapia, which is raised in ponds naturally infused with every high tide - giving the fish a clean mild flavor and firm texture exclusive to Tropical's Tilapia.
In addition to Tilapia, booth visitors will get a chance to see our Ecuadorian Shrimp available to the European market as frozen. Our top of the line Brine Quick Freezing Technology allows freezing of the shrimp in under 9 minutes - allowing for moisture retention without damaging the texture of the shrimp and resulting in an incomparable crisp and succulent final product!
Don't miss your chance to learn about the culinary excellence of Tropical's Ecuadorian products and visit us in booth #858, Hall 6.
Schedule a meeting with Laurent Metivier, our European Sales Rep, by emailing laurent@eattilapia.com. We hope to see you at Brussels! |
Certification Corner
Want to understand more about the various certifications that are out there? We can help! Each month we will pose a frequently asked question as well as an answer. We will discuss certifications that Tropical currently carries throughout our production group.
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| Q: What is Chain of Custody Certification?
A: The Chain of Custody refers to a set of control points that covers the tracking/traceability of the product all along the production, processing, distribution and marketing chain. The organization being assessed shall ensure that there is an adequate combination of identification, segregation and documentation of certified and non-certified product to prevent uncontrolled mixing. Chain of Custody certification verifies that a certified product originates from a certified aquaculture production chain, and is not mixed with non-certified products. It assures that the certified product delivered has indeed originated from a farmer certified against any particular standard.
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Earth Day
 For those of you unfamiliar with "Earth Day" here's a little history for you. This year was the 42nd year it was celebrated and awareness of Earth Day has reached roughly 180 countries around the world. For the full (illustrated) story, visit "A Brief History of Earth Day". You can also find some helpful tips on ways to reduce energy usage and save money at the bottom of that page!
May 5th is 'Green Up Vermont' Day. Vermonters take time to pick up trash in their local neighborhood; we will be doing it and we encourage you to do the same!
Earth Day was just this past Sunday - what did you do to celebrate?!
Tell us on Facebook!
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Staff Notes
On April 1st, Matt Busko, Logistics Coordinator, celebrated his first anniversary with Tropical. Congratulations and thank you for your hard work!
Also on the 1st of this month, Gary Hanrahan, of Shellfish Ireland celebrated his birthday with his first ever Ben & Jerry's ice cream cake! Happy Birthday!
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Featured Recipe
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 Exotic Tilapia
THINKLIGHT&REFRESHING! Combine pineapple and capers to make this an unusual & delicious main dish. Click here for this recipe. |
Questions? Comments? Contact us by email or or call us toll-free at 1-800-277-3459 www.eattilapia.com
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