June 26, 2013 — When it comes to seafood, Portlanders have their secret sources — a favorite, trusted fishmonger who sells them local mussels or clams, or a lobsterman they can meet at the dock when he motors in after a long day on the water. But when it comes to groundfish, things get a little tricky.
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure the haddock you buy at one of our local fish markets is, in most cases, relatively fresh. We do, after all, live right on the coast. But wouldn't it be nice to know for sure that your fish filets hadn't been languishing in the case for several days? And wouldn't it be nice to know that you don't have to settle for that previously frozen foreign product found in a lot of grocery stores?
Well, it turns out there are a couple of direct-sales options for fish right here in Portland. These two companies may be competitors, but their businesses work in two entirely different ways, so you can pick whichever method works best for you.
The Nicholses bought their fish from Allyson Jordan, owner of two fishing boats and a side business called Eat Local Fish (eatlocalfish.com). Jordan sells her fish online or over the phone, by the pound, and she'll personally deliver it right to your doorstep.
"Ninety-two percent of our seafood is imported in this country, from countries that have little or no regulations," Jordan said during an interview at Becky's Diner last week. "Another thing is, if you buy frozen-at-sea products, it can be thawed and frozen up to three times before you get it to your table, which is really gross because you don't know what chemicals they're using to freeze it."
Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald