JUNEAU - Gov. Tony Knowles was advised today the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will purchase up to $12 million worth of Alaska pink and chum salmon for use in federal food assistance programs. Knowles was advised of the purchase today. A formal announcement from the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is expected Thursday.

"Purchase of this sizeable amount of salmon will be a significant boost to the many Alaska coastal communities that depend on fishing jobs," Knowles said. "While helping our fishing families, federal food assistance programs will benefit from the healthy source of protein that Alaska wild salmon provides. After getting a taste of our salmon last year, I'm pleased the USDA is coming back for more."

Last year, the USDA bought $14 million worth of Alaska pink salmon. This year's purchase will include canned and pouched pink salmon and chum salmon nuggets. USDA officials have indicated their interest in purchasing more value-added seafood products such as chum salmon nuggets which can be readily used in school lunch programs.

Knowles' salmon cabinet sought the USDA purchases to help boost the Alaska fishing industry. The salmon cabinet, formed in response to concerns about the impact of falling salmon prices on coastal jobs and fishing families, has also worked to ensure adequate processing capacity in remote fishing districts and improve marketing efforts to sell more Alaska wild salmon.

All USDA purchases will be on a competitive bid basis. Potential bidders will be notified of bidding requirements in the near future.

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