Showing posts with label Walmart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walmart. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Friday, January 24, 2014
Parnell says state has deal with Walmart
Note: The following press release from the governor's office comes in apparent response to this pronouncement from Walmart.
Office of Gov. Sean Parnell
Jan. 24, 2014
State, Walmart announce agreement on seafood sustainability
JUNEAU — Following focused efforts by the state of Alaska to educate, inform and reassure Walmart about Alaska's commitment to responsible fisheries management, Gov. Sean Parnell today announced that Walmart and the state had come to an agreement, and that the retailer will continue to purchase Alaska seafood.
"This is great news for Alaska's seafood industry and the state as a whole," Parnell said. "We are very happy to hear that Walmart, the world's largest retailer, will continue to buy Alaska seafood. I want to especially commend the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, the Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute for their hard work in showcasing the sustainability of Alaska seafood. Maintaining choice in seafood sustainability certifications is important to the state and the fishing industry, and Walmart's decision is a major step in the right direction.”
Representatives from ASMI and several state officials have been working with Walmart and The Sustainability Consortium for several months, including a delegation visiting corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., last September. Just a couple of weeks ago, Walmart sent a delegation to Alaska to continue discussions clarifying aspects of the Responsible Fisheries Management Certification program, and to see firsthand the work being done to ensure Alaska's fish are harvested responsibly.
In addition to continuing to purchase Alaska seafood, Walmart has amended its sourcing policies to allow for multiple certification programs that meet principles outlined by TSC. The state will continue working with TSC as ASMI considers the recently released TSC principles.
Office of Gov. Sean Parnell
Jan. 24, 2014
State, Walmart announce agreement on seafood sustainability
JUNEAU — Following focused efforts by the state of Alaska to educate, inform and reassure Walmart about Alaska's commitment to responsible fisheries management, Gov. Sean Parnell today announced that Walmart and the state had come to an agreement, and that the retailer will continue to purchase Alaska seafood.
"This is great news for Alaska's seafood industry and the state as a whole," Parnell said. "We are very happy to hear that Walmart, the world's largest retailer, will continue to buy Alaska seafood. I want to especially commend the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, the Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute for their hard work in showcasing the sustainability of Alaska seafood. Maintaining choice in seafood sustainability certifications is important to the state and the fishing industry, and Walmart's decision is a major step in the right direction.”
Representatives from ASMI and several state officials have been working with Walmart and The Sustainability Consortium for several months, including a delegation visiting corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., last September. Just a couple of weeks ago, Walmart sent a delegation to Alaska to continue discussions clarifying aspects of the Responsible Fisheries Management Certification program, and to see firsthand the work being done to ensure Alaska's fish are harvested responsibly.
In addition to continuing to purchase Alaska seafood, Walmart has amended its sourcing policies to allow for multiple certification programs that meet principles outlined by TSC. The state will continue working with TSC as ASMI considers the recently released TSC principles.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Walmart summit set
Gov. Sean Parnell says his people will meet with Walmart's people next week in Juneau. Here's a press release.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Walmart protest set for this morning
Alaska salmon fishermen plan to picket Walmart's South Anchorage store beginning at 10 a.m.
Read why in this protest alert that popped up in my email.
Read why in this protest alert that popped up in my email.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Walmart keeps hearing it from Alaska
Another Alaska pol, Gov. Sean Parnell, has fired a letter to Walmart questioning the retail giant's devotion to the Marine Stewardship Council ecolabel when it comes to buying salmon.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Begich to Walmart: Forget MSC
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, has fired this letter to Walmart expressing his views on Alaska seafood and the Marine Stewardship Council.
Begich also issued this press release.
Begich also issued this press release.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Is this anything?
Some days ago, on June 19, a senior seafood buyer for retail giant Walmart sent salmon suppliers this letter.
"Please review the attached letter in regards to wild salmon. This is a reconfirmation of our requirements for sustainable sourcing of wild salmon," said an email introducing the letter. "Now that the wild salmon harvest season is upon us, please review your source fisheries to ensure that they meet our sustainability requirements."
The letter said the company will buy only from fisheries "certified sustainable to the MSC standard," or actively working toward certification.
Uh-oh.
The bulk of Alaska's salmon industry, you'll recall, recently fired MSC — the London-based Marine Stewardship Council — as tedious, expensive and superfluous.
Walmart said it might consider an alternative to MSC certification. But, according to its letter, "Walmart has not yet determined any other standard to be equivalent to MSC. Therefore, no other standards will be accepted as equivalent until such time as we announce our decision."
Deckboss hasn't talked with the MSC folks, but imagines they're delighted with Walmart's stance.
I've also not talked with Alaska's major salmon processors. But I'm guessing they're not too worried.
Why not?
Because the processors are confident most buyers trust that Alaska has a good and very abundant wild product, and that the state manages its salmon runs sustainably.
Further, I expect the processors believe the Alaska brand trumps the MSC brand.
Deckboss did ask Tyson Fick, spokesman for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, for a comment. Remember, Alaska's major salmon processors control the ASMI board.
"It is amazing to me," he said, "that America's largest retailer appears to be saying that they will not buy American seafood without the endorsement of a foreign-based environmental group while promoting foreign seafood with clearly inferior fisheries management and quality, all in the name of sustainability."
"Please review the attached letter in regards to wild salmon. This is a reconfirmation of our requirements for sustainable sourcing of wild salmon," said an email introducing the letter. "Now that the wild salmon harvest season is upon us, please review your source fisheries to ensure that they meet our sustainability requirements."
The letter said the company will buy only from fisheries "certified sustainable to the MSC standard," or actively working toward certification.
Uh-oh.
The bulk of Alaska's salmon industry, you'll recall, recently fired MSC — the London-based Marine Stewardship Council — as tedious, expensive and superfluous.
Walmart said it might consider an alternative to MSC certification. But, according to its letter, "Walmart has not yet determined any other standard to be equivalent to MSC. Therefore, no other standards will be accepted as equivalent until such time as we announce our decision."
Deckboss hasn't talked with the MSC folks, but imagines they're delighted with Walmart's stance.
I've also not talked with Alaska's major salmon processors. But I'm guessing they're not too worried.
Why not?
Because the processors are confident most buyers trust that Alaska has a good and very abundant wild product, and that the state manages its salmon runs sustainably.
Further, I expect the processors believe the Alaska brand trumps the MSC brand.
Deckboss did ask Tyson Fick, spokesman for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, for a comment. Remember, Alaska's major salmon processors control the ASMI board.
"It is amazing to me," he said, "that America's largest retailer appears to be saying that they will not buy American seafood without the endorsement of a foreign-based environmental group while promoting foreign seafood with clearly inferior fisheries management and quality, all in the name of sustainability."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
