Since 1982, The Fresh Market has provided our customers with the safest, most delicious Seafood available anywhere. At The Fresh Market, we are proud to support the American fisherman in this important domestic industry.

Whether wild Sockeye Salmon from Bristol Bay in Alaska or enormous White Shrimp from the Atlantic coast off the Carolinas, we feel that our domestic Seafood is some of the most flavorful and healthy food in the world! Inside this brochure we proudly take you on a tour showing how we select, harvest, and bring to market the world’s best tasting Shrimp from the coastal waters of the United States and beyond.

Why Wild?
With a nutritious diet determined entirely by Mother Nature, Wild American Shrimp have a unique flavor profile that is simply not found in other shrimp. Customers in each of our Southern coastal areas are offered Shrimp from their own state, all the way from North Carolina through Florida and over to Louisiana. Due to varying salinity, water temperature, and feeding grounds in the different catch areas, the same species of White Shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) will have a unique flavor familiar to those customers in each specific region. Customers in our interior states such as Tennessee, Kentucky, the Midwest, and into the Northeast are offered the same great tasting Wild American Shrimp, usually those caught off the coast off North and South Carolina.

Wherever the origin, you can rest assured knowing that our Wild American Shrimp is independently tested to be free of any possible contaminants. Our Shrimp testing process became even more important following the 2010 oil spill. In a great testament to the fishing protocols of our Shrimpers and to the strict handling procedures of our preferred processors, none of the Wild American Shrimp shipped to us has ever shown a positive reading for any of the spill contaminants. We know that having confidence in the products we sell is extremely important to our customers and we are committed to maintaining that trust in our Seafood department and throughout our store.

From local docks, to your local store...
Our Wild American Shrimp are caught in the warm waters off the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the southern United States. Trusted docks include Oriental NC, Beaufort SC, Savannah GA, Port St Joe FL, Bayou la Batre AL, and Dulac LA. The Shrimp are graded based on size and quality, then quickly shipped to our final processors to be packed for shipment to The Fresh Market stores.

The Shrimp most of us are most familiar with are known as White Shrimp, but we also source various other species found in our coastal waters. Royal Red shrimp are best described as a cross between Shrimp, Crab, and Lobster and are offered as a medium peeled & deveined salad Shrimp in all of The Fresh Market stores. We also offer Brown Shrimp, Key West Pink Shrimp, and Rock Shrimp as appropriate by region when the opportunity arises.

Farm Raised Shrimp
One of the great challenges facing the Seafood industry is the limited availability of wild Seafood in a world with growing demand. In order for Seafood to remain an affordable part of a healthy diet to the most people, the industry must continue to develop a responsible approach to sustainable aquaculture, including Farm Raised Shrimp.

Our USA Farm Raised Shrimp are hatched in the Florida Keys and then transported to our supplier’s production facility in northwest Florida. Located 20 miles inland and completely biosecure, this farm has one of the world’s best sources of pure saltwater located 1000 feet below the surface of the ground. The unique water supply and modern farming protocols produce a vibrant and healthy shrimp that is firm and surprisingly sweet to the taste.

Certifiably Great
This modern facility began operations in 2006 and has been purposefully grown slowly in order to maintain the necessary controls and to avoid the mistakes of farms that have grown too quickly elsewhere in the world. Our USA Farm Raised Shrimp have received the Green rating from the Monterey Bay Aquarium program and FishWise – programs focused on promoting sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices.

Cocktail Shrimp
If you’ve bought Shrimp from other stores, you may have noticed that something is missing from our ingredient statement – phosphates. Often listed as sodium tripolyphosphate, this additive causes Shrimp and other proteins to retain water. Upon cooking, Shrimp with added phosphates become softer in texture, lighter in color, and exhibit a ‘washed out’ flavor. At The Fresh Market our goal is always to have our customers “Experience the Food”, not to sell inferior product cheapened with additives and water weight.

Our shrimp are JUST SHRIMP with a dash of salt to bring out the true taste. Due to our lack of additives and our unique cooked-in-shell preparation, you’ll find our Cocktail Shrimp to have a firm texture, vibrant color, and superior flavor.

How does our Cocktail Shrimp Stack Up Against the Competition:

What does all this mean? The Fresh Market’s Cocktail Shrimp is cooked in the shell before it’s peeled and deveined to lock in the natural, most desired eating characteristics. The result is a heartier, firmer eating Shrimp with superior color and a remarkably sweet taste.

Shrimp Nutrition Benefits
Shrimp is an excellent source of protein, along with vitamins D and B12. Shrimp has also been shown to lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol), increase HDL (“good” cholesterol) and to contain omega-3 fatty acids, all of which lower the risk of heart disease. And as a good source of selenium, the regular consumption of Shrimp helps promote proper thyroid and immune system function.