Finding oysters and shrimp for traditional Louisiana Thanksgiving dishes has become easier due to new technologies that are connecting consumers with the fishers who catch the Gulf of Mexico's bounty. Several state-run programs work to guarantee local seafood's freshness, ensure its origins, and create deeper financial support for the region's struggling fishing culture.
The aim is to further differentiate fishers' products from the imports that flood the local marketplace. From boats such as Lil Man, Slow Ride, Miss Brittany G and the T-Turbo tied to docks at the Port of Delcambre and elsewhere, consumers can purchase fresh Vermilion Parish white shrimp, crab, flounder and oysters directly from the fishers who recently trawled, trapped, caught or harvested the morsels.
So, if you are planning to serve oyster dressing, seafood gumbo, crabmeat au gratin or perhaps even simply some BBQ shrimp, there now are many ways to net that seafood right when it arrives ashore. The direct seafood initiative is one of many programs throughout the state – often called sea-to-plate or boat-to-fork -working to certify, trace and guarantee that seafood is coming from local waters.
Earlier this month, the Lafourche-Terrebonne Direct Seafood program officially launched. Referred to as LaTer Direct Seafood, visitors can buy fresh seafood "down the bayou" from the fishers as they arrive atthe dock.
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