Mississippi Delta freshwater shrimp growers hope a study under way by Mississippi State University will define the best way to market and price their crop.
Terry Hanson, an agricultural economist at Mississippi State University, said a study at a Starkville Kroger store should help determine consumers' demands as they compare to the saltwater counterpart.
Currently growers handle all aspects of production, packaging and distribution of the shrimp, also referred to as freshwater prawn. The marketing information will help streamline the process.
Growers Steve and Dolores Fratesi of Leland, whose Lauren Farms averaged yields of 720 pounds for shrimp per acre from from 10-acres grown, welcome any assistance to expand their markets.
"I think by all accounts, the marketing is the bottleneck," Hanson said. "Biologically, they can grow the shrimp to all sizes. And some farmers have gotten out of the industry because it's taking them too much time to market the things.
"In the best case scenario, it will give us an idea of what the public is willing to pay for various sizes of shrimp. Will the consumer want to buy them with the heads on or the heads off?"
The 10-week survey of buyer attitudes will conclude in mid-December. Simultaneously, a mail-out survey to consumers in the Starkville area will either validate or call into question what researchers learn through sales made at Kroger, where the researchers will control the prices.
The survey also will allow researchers to learn how demographics will assist them in reaching targeted markets, Hanson said. It will be complete by mid-December.
"That gives us an idea of where the most quantities ought to be sold and at what price," Hanson said.
Dolores Fratesi, who said she is self-marketing the product to restaurants and grocery stores, believes a more defined market and central point for distribution would help the industry, freeing up growers to concentrate on production instead of everything else that is involved.
"We feel like their work will enhance what we are doing," she said. "The growers are developing their own markets. And as far as the pricing goes, basically, it's going in and seeing the prices of seafood in retail markets and knowing what the market will bear."
Fratesi is selling freshwater jumbo shrimp tails for $14 per pound.
And product familiarity has been a sticking point in creating consumer loyalty, said Eva Hines, owner of Hines Grocery in Yazoo City, where freshwater shrimp sales were good last year.
"They're a little slow right at first and you sort of have to introduce them to people again and then they want to try them," Hines said.
Bernard Boykin, market manager for Sunflower Food Store, Number 37 in Indianola, said they had success with freshwater shrimp and now are about to sell them again.
"We had some good input from the customers on it. Of course, you've got some die hard customers who love that saltwater shrimp," Boykin said. "To me, they've got a little of a lobster taste."
Lou D'Abramo, a professor with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station in Starkville, said they have progressed through learning there is a stronger market preference for larger freshwater shrimp.
Growing techniques were also refined, and researchers now know things like once harvested, freshwater shrimp can survive the rigors of being transported for up to 10 hours.
Researchers grew about 3,000 pounds at the Thad Cochran National Warm Water Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, then transported them to Starkville, where they were individually quick frozen, D'Abramo said.
Consumer demand for freshwater shrimp continues to grow, D'Abramo said, "as it relates to shrimp, size does matter."
Fratesi said restaurateurs and consumers appreciate the fact that freshwater shrimp are grown under controlled conditions.
"They appreciate the fact that they're grain-fed in clean water," she said.
Copyright © 2003, The Clarion-Ledger.
Rick Guy/The Clarion-Ledger
Grower Delores Fratesi of Leland displays a selection of some
freshwater shrimp, or prawns, raised in Mississippi farm ponds.
Seeking new consumers for her farm's product, Fratesi developed
and uses this display to market and educate the public on advantages
of freshwater shrimp.