AUBURN, N.Y. — A significant donation of fresh fish was extended to a food bank in New York this month, but it did not come without complications. LocalCoho, a salmon farm on the brink of closure in Auburn, had 40,000 pounds (approximately 18,100 kilograms) of coho salmon that it wanted to donate to the Food Bank of Central New York. This quantity of fish represents a rich source of high-quality protein that could potentially serve thousands of families in need.

However, the fish were still alive, swimming in large indoor tanks at the farm. The food bank needed to devise a plan to remove approximately 13,000 salmon from these tanks and subsequently process them into frozen fillets for distribution to food pantries throughout the region. Moreover, time was of the essence; the farm was set to permanently cease operations in just a few days.

Thanks to the commitment of numerous volunteers from food pantries, the team managed to clear the tanks in a matter of weeks, packaging tons of fish for redistribution to a processing facility. “The fact that we only had weeks to execute this really heightened the pressure and anxiety a bit,” stated Brian McManus, the chief operations officer of the food bank. He expressed confidence in the group’s determination and expertise.

Addressing food waste has been a pressing issue for many years in the United States and globally, with over a third of food produced in the U.S. going uneaten and much of it ending up in waste sites. On one occasion, volunteers were seen immersed in knee-deep water, catching salmon to fill their nets. Christina Hudson Kohler, one of the volunteers, noted the unique nature of this work compared to her previous experiences, which typically involved sorting fruits and vegetables.

LocalCoho is a startup that had been testing a sustainable salmon farming technique using recycled water. Its facility, located west of Syracuse, supplied coho salmon to wholesalers and retailers, including upscale Manhattan sushi establishments, with ambitions to develop regional farms across the nation. However, the company faced difficulties in securing sufficient funds to grow and become profitable, leading to its decision to close at the end of January.

With the closure imminent, farm manager Adam Kramarsyck articulated the desire to prevent the fish from going to waste or being repurposed as biofuel. This prompted the outreach to explore the possibility of donating the fish as food. “It’s making something good out of a challenging situation,” Kramarsyck remarked.

While LocalCoho could manually process about 600 fish per week, the urgency required to clear the tanks was overwhelming. The food bank took the lead in coordinating logistics for this ambitious task. McManus felt both excitement and trepidation at the prospect of securing such an abundant fish supply while facing logistical hurdles. Though the Syracuse-based operation was adept at distributing canned and frozen seafood, they lacked the infrastructure to manage fresh fish processing within a restricted timeframe.

Kramarsyck emphasized the complexities involved, referencing the sheer scale of logistics required. The food bank mobilized 42 volunteers to assist, and a local company with refrigerated vehicles, Brown Carbonic, generously offered to transport the fish to a processor located about an hour away in Rochester at no cost. Staff from LocalCoho also participated to ensure everything was completed on schedule.

Andrew Katzer, the food bank’s director of procurement, remarked on the exceptional dedication shown by the closing company, stating that many businesses in a similar position would simply let things happen as they may. The salmon was subsequently processed and quickly frozen, with plans for distribution among 243 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other charitable organizations within the food bank’s network.

Ultimately, the effort is anticipated to provide over 26,000 servings of difficult-to-obtain protein for those in need. “Animal protein is highly sought after for nourishment, and acquiring it can be challenging. This donation will significantly benefit the community,” McManus noted. “I don’t expect this supply to last long,” he added, acknowledging that while they have previously received salmon, it has not been of this magnitude.