Week of April 7, 2025 - Small World Seafood Update

Hello everybody!!

So, as all of you know, tariffs have been placed on most countries around the world. I will say before I continue that I am not going to discuss the political aspects of this situation. That is something for another forum. However, I do want to discuss how this will affect you and us.

From behind the curtain where we do the buying of product for you guys, there is a lot of uncertainty. Importers and suppliers are trying to understand if these tariffs will be temporary or permanent. And you can see why. If i am an importer of shrimp, say, and pay a 20% tariff to bring it into the US, and then a week later the tariffs are rescinded, I am screwed and paid too much. So a supplier may hold off on importing anything to see when and if the dust settles. But, even if i don't bring anything in yet hoping for a reversal, I can't really be sure of that so anything I already possess in ther US has to go up in price since I have to cost average and think of my replacement cost which just went potentially way up. Think of how when the price of oil goes up, the price at the pump goes up right away.

Another factor comes into play if retaliation between countries happen. These typically take the form of specific products targeted to cause consumer pain on the other side. The Canadians pull American liquor from the shelves, the American counter attack on maple syrup. It can all get pretty kookie.

Well, as far as I am concerned and the only way i can deal with all this is to do what we always do. That is, work through the volatility and continue to find you the things that are the freshest and the best for that week. Seafood prices are already volatile due to weather events, biomass changes and the basic fluctuations of supply and demand. it is my job to find you the things that are both the best quality and the best price. Regardless of the reason for the price fluctuations. It's usually kind of like surfing a wave anyway. You want to catch the right one. The waves just got a bit bigger but, just know, I am up for it. No worries..And like I've been saying to a lot of people in the last few days, We've been through 9/11, The Great Recession and Covid together as a cummunity. We will get through this as well....as a community.

Okay, let's get to the fish for the week. We have plenty of Faroe Island salmon coming in this week. In portions, blast frozen portions or whole fresh sides. I know lots of people celebrating Passover will need one of these. The whole sides average around 3.5lb each so good for 6-12 people depending on if it is the only protein you are serving.

We also have plenty of whole sides of Black Cod, also known as sablefish.Each side averages 1.5lb each and is good for 3-6 people, again depending on if it is the only thing you are serving. 

This week, we are bringing in frozen hamachi loins! Skinless, boneless and absolutely the best. Sometimes referred to as 'yellowtail' in sushi restos, this is the real deal!!

A new item we are bringing in for the first time, and due to the success of cod cheeks with you all, we have skate cheeks this week! These are pretty little nuggets that are terrific to dredge and pan fry or use in the same way you would scallops. They are so interesting and delicious! And who's ever had one? Exactly. Nowe you gotta try them.

We have butterflied branzini, rock shrimp, bay scallops. More tuna spread and more sesame bagels from Kismet Bagels parbaked and frozen so that you can finish them off at home for a right out of the oven experience!

And along with the osetra caviar we've been selling, we also brought in some Kaluga caviar which has a milder flavor and nice crunchy texture!

Littleneck clams are the shellfish of the week.... Oysters wil be Swan Island from Maine.We have lonsa and smoked fish..So many good things.. Oh, and babka kits too..breath, everyone..

Plenty of crab meat, shrimp, etc....

I know, I know..Lots of words...

Anyway, as usual, I have to thank all of you guys for being in our lives. What an incredible community we live in...

Robert Amar

Small World Seafood

Owner