Wegmans Blog: Fresh Stories

Cod Al Forno with Roasted Tomatoes

The folks in our seafood departments are occasionally asked about the “sustainability” of a particular fish. Other customers want to know whether we’re making responsible decisions to protect seafood for future generations. Let me tell you a little story.

Wegmans Food Markets had been in business for almost 60 years before we added a seafood department. We started at the Pittsford, NY, store in 1974; customers loved it, so before too long seafood was being sold in all our stores. At that time, there didn’t seem to be any concern about the supply of fish… the oceans were large and they were filled with fish.

In the 1980s we began to have trouble getting certain types of fish. And the main ports were receiving seeing fewer and fewer fish, and the size of them was decreasing. So we started asking questions, and we even went to the ports to talk with boat captains. We learned that the National Marine Fisheries Service was setting quotas and closing certain fishing areas for specific time periods to protect the fish populations. We realized that if fishermen kept working at the current rate, the world was going to run out of fish. That was unthinkable, but true. And for us, it was the beginning of thinking about “sustainable seafood.”

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You could say we’re making good on a resolution created in January 2011 (yes, a year ago), taking a systematic approach to making Wegmans Brand products ever better.   This is not to imply that we weren’t doing our best in the past, because we’ve had a consistent quality assurance program, but we wanted to step back and conduct a methodical review of products, category by category.  Sounds simple, but like most everything, it’s not as simple as it seems.  It means opening up every package of every product, analyzing, counting (blueberries in the waffles e.g.), popular brand comparison (if there is one), examining customer comments, etc. Such assessments take time, followed by action on the findings.

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I love juicing because this technique helps you drink your daily fruits and veggies.  And, by doing some experimenting, my juice blends combine colorful produce in refreshingly wonderful, nutritious drinks! I love green juices with spinach, pineapple, berries and citrus blends. Want to start your day with the kind of energy boost that you only get from fresh juice?  In case you’re thinking it’s too much work, I have found three ways that fit most anyone’s schedule and skills. Read More »

Here’s a little inside scoop on one of the best parts of being a Wegmans nutritionist – lots of food sampling! Chefs, merchants, product developers – they show up bearing their goods to get our feedback on taste, concepts, nutrition & health claims. We don’t make the decisions on whether to develop or sell items, but we’re always happy to offer our opinions.

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Ahhhh, Valentine’s Day.  When I think of this holiday, the image of mostly men sweating it out comes to mind. They just want the tools to make this day a success. Well, thankfully times have changed, and Valentine’s has become a point of inspiration for everyone.

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