The Twin Parish Port Commission of Delcambre is launching a direct marketing seafood program as a means to assist Iberia and Vermilion parish commercial fishermen. Anyone interested in learning more about the program can attend a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. at the LSU AgCenter office, 1105 West Port St., Abbeville.
Research shows that tremendous direct marketing opportunities exist in the Acadiana region, which includes Lafayette, New Iberia, Abbeville and other nearby communities. The direct marketing project is designed to put seafood consumers directly in touch with local producers of wild caught shrimp, crabs, finfish and other seafood products.
The program is a focused effort of the Port Commission, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant to help revitalize the local fishing industry in Iberia and Vermilion parishes and the Port of Delcambre. Similar marketing efforts are unfolding around the United States as fishermen and commercial fishing communities are struggling to survive economically.
During the meeting, Twin Parish Port commissioners will explain program details, including a state-of-the-art Web site being developed to showcase local producers and products. Specialists with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant will discuss direct seafood marketing and how it has worked well in other places. Additional training meetings will be scheduled later to assist participants with product quality, sanitation, business management and other topics important for direct marketing success.
For additional information contact:
- Jeff Leblanc – President, Twin Parish Port; 337- 685-1374
- Mark Shirley – LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Sea Grant; 337-898-4335
