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Catfish growers say a recent USDA purchase of $5 million worth of their product could help put catfish on more school cafeteria menus.
The purchase, announced this month by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, will benefit federal nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch Program.
Roger Barlow, president of The Catfish Institute, calls school lunchrooms "the perfect venue for our product." While frozen breaded catfish strips are already a staple of many school kitchens, Barlow suggests catfish could be as prevalent as square-cut pepperoni pizza if administrators realized the advantages posed by the whiskered fish. "It's very nutritious, very versatile," he says. "I think there is room in schools for additional product." A surge in demand for domestically-raised catfish would be a boon for U.S. producers, who've watched their industry falter as more consumers have gravitated toward low-priced Asian imports. According to a recent report in the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram, U.S. catfish pond acreage has plummeted by 42 percent since 2002. But by turning schoolchildren on to catfish, growers could help create a next generation of U.S. farm-raised catfish fans.
Barlow is sure catfish will find a receptive audience in the nation's schools. "I think kids like it," he said. "My kids like it. Many children already appreciate and love catfish, but there's always room for the first-time catfish user."
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5-19-2010 @7:05PM Jim said...
"Many children already appreciate and love catfish, but there's always room for the first-time catfish user"
that is awesome. sounds......wrong xD
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5-23-2010 @5:37PM j said... It already has your daily requirement of crude oil too . You cant beat that . Good for digestion
5-23-2010 @8:05PM JPuzzleWhiz said... Farmers may want more catfish on the school lunch menu, but this won't sit well with children of Jewish families. Catfish is consider non-kosher.
5-23-2010 @8:06PM Al Schrader said... Fresh water catfish is delicious. Eating fried catfish is great & healthy. Where a lot of people go wrong is they eat too much of it resulting in bloating, cramps, and cholesterol / saturated fat overloads.
One piece with a veg and potato is fine....Alfred-
5-19-2010 @8:04PM Cindy said... I really like catfish with lemon juice. I would buy it if our school served it...but they won't.
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5-19-2010 @11:20PM Bernie B said... Isn't there an inherent problem that numerous people refuse to eat catfish due to religious observations?
This also just sounds like a corporate shill trying to get his product into the system.
Also, serving it up as fried food practically negates all the health benefits offered from the fish.
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5-23-2010 @2:41PM Jill said... Bernie,
I am aware of those who avoid shellfish, beef, pork, or all animal products for religious reasons. I am unaware of those who abstain from catfish. What faith is that?
-always curious
5-23-2010 @2:46PM john said... Yeah you're right about the fried catfish.....just let them keep eating the pizza. And what religion has anything against catfish???
5-23-2010 @5:50PM Carl said... I love catfish myself, but it is a skin fish and not Kosher. Along with shrimp, lobster, shark etc.
5-23-2010 @8:08PM JPuzzleWhiz said... Catfish are regarded as bottom-feeders in the marine food-chain, and are therefore un-kosher.
5-23-2010 @2:54PM Brigette said... Here in Louisiana, catfish is already a part of the school lunch menu. Unfortunately, my son doesn't appreciate it as much as the burgers and hot dogs, but one day he will come around. I mean it was just his year that he tried his first shrimp po-boy and fell in love.
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5-23-2010 @3:07PM criticalmom said... Doesn't catfish have a much higher fat content then most other fish? Shouldn't they be adding fish that is healthier and maybe not so.............FRIED!
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5-23-2010 @3:30PM theshowmestate said... Jews and muslims do not eat any fish that doesn't have scales. As far as seafood, they do not eat anything that doesn't have scales or fins which includes shrimp, clams, oysters. Also, the majority of people think catfish as bottom feeders. Almost all catfish now comes from catfish farms and they are fed with grain pellets that float and, therefore, do not bottom feed. As far as fried catfish, it does not have a heavy breading like other frozen fish that have flour/egg type coating and negates any frying "harm." School wills no go back to menus that include actual cooking from scratch so, therefore, frying will not be an option. They bake everything these days. The problem with school meals is that they are limited by budget and try to offer healthy food, but then serve breakfast that includes cinnamon rolls and sausage/pancake on a stick with syrup which they also have on the lunch menu. Maybe we should all go back to making lunches for the kids. That way only the parents are responsible for their kids health.
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5-23-2010 @5:27PM Jacqueline Cunningham said... Now there's a thought: Parents taking responsibility for their children's well being.
5-23-2010 @7:42PM JoJo said... Actually, schools don't BAKE everything now....they REHEAT everything. In the 1980's everything started being trucked in. One school that I worked at, the trays already had the food on them and each one was covered with foil and kept warm. Can you say GROSS? A school in WI did an experiment and they COOKED FRESH FOOD. They found that it was cheaper and behavior problems went down to almost zero. The kids actually loved the food. If you don't have crap pizza, burgers, hot dogs for the kids to choose from they will come around. Kids will not starve themselves, and I don't buy the "well at least if they eat a hotdog they will be eating something". Yeah, GARBAGE. Also, did you know that ketchup is considered a vegetable, so if the kids dip their fries or fried mystery ground up chicken bits thing into ketchup, they are also having a serving of veggies.
5-23-2010 @3:40PM lisanie43 said... mmm I heard that some species of catfish can be quite poisonous
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5-23-2010 @6:14PM Linda said... Yes parents should take responsibilty, but, as in NY, the public school system has a breakfast and lunch program for parents who can not afford to feed their kids. That is why, even in snow storms, the public schools have to stay open.
5-23-2010 @4:28PM macabee said... The catfish that ar farm raised are not poisonious! The are really good you should try some!!!
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5-23-2010 @5:09PM lisanie43 said... Okay I will take your word for it. I just haven't tried catfish before.
5-23-2010 @4:33PM googer96 said... Fish would be great-- until they bread it and fry it and then put it on a high carb bun with high fat mayo.... UUUGH!! Aren't our kids fat enough? How about some super healthy meals?
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