THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605030660
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Farm Fresh Inc., the Norfolk-based chain of grocery stores, on Thursday announced plans for a voluntary seafood inspection program - one of the most stringent among Hampton Roads retailers.
``They're taking an extra step to guarantee the freshness of the product,'' said Robert Edmonds, vice president of Sam Rust Seafood Inc. in Hampton, a processor and distributor.
Among local retailers, Farm Fresh will be one of the few that pays federal inspectors to scrutinize its seafood, Edmonds said.
Harris Teeter Inc., a Matthews, N.C.-based grocer that's moving into Hampton Roads, has a similar program. Its local stores have not yet opened.
How grocers now handle seafood is largely up to them. The federal government has had strict regulations for inspection of beef, poultry and pork for years - but not seafood. And new seafood regulations will target suppliers and processors - but not retailers.
When retailers get involved, it's usually to ease customers' minds, said Kenneth Aadsen, a consumer safety officer with the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service.
``It's basically consumer-driven,'' Aadsen said. ``Most of our activity is at the processor and distributor level.''
Under Farm Fresh's seafood program, the company will pay one full-time inspector with the Commerce Department to scrutinize, test and taste seafood at processing plants and distributors' warehouses. The grocer also will use some part-time inspectors.
Salmon, catfish and other seafood that don't meet the Commerce Department's guidelines will be rejected on the spot, said Michael E. Julian, Farm Fresh's president and chief executive officer.
Farm Fresh has tested its seafood plan for several weeks. The program will begin within the next week.
Farm Fresh officials said they aren't aware of any other supermarket chains currently in South Hampton Roads that have federal seafood inspectors.
On the Peninsula, however, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. already promotes its use of Commerce Department inspectors. The Jacksonville, Fla.-based grocer is considering opening several stores in South Hampton Roads.
Harris Teeter, which will open a Virginia Beach store in June, said it ensures that each seafood product is individually inspected by the Commerce Department.
The company also requires that processors keep careful records on each shipment. Those papers must include the name of the fishing vessel and the harvesting location.
``Our processors truly know where our fish is caught,'' the company said in a statement.
Food Lion Inc. does not have its own seafood inspection program, but it requires its vendors to comply with a federal seafood safety program.
``All of our seafood and fish is prepackaged for us, so we don't have any handling issues,'' said Chris Ahearn, a spokeswoman with Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion.
Officials with Hannaford Bros. Co. and Super Fresh could not be reached for comment. by CNB