Arroyo Food Co-Op Offers Locally Sourced Fish Through Santa Barbara Based Community Seafood

Beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Arroyo Food Co-op will be the site for a weekly drop-off by Community Seafood, a Santa Barbara business that supports local fisheries and provides ultra-fresh, sustainably caught fish to its subscribers.

“Having Community Seafood come to the Co-op is part of our 2015 focus to bring our members even more locally sourced foods and products,” says AFC Operations Manager Joy Lam. “We already give our members access to fresh produce from Muir Ranch, raw milk from Organic Pastures, Brassica and Brine sauerkraut, Granola Mama’s and Fat Uncle Farm raw almond, and we’re working on folding in even more local vendors.”

Subscribers signup for the service online at www.communityseafood.com and pay in advance for a 4-week season, either weekly or every other week, for half a pound to 4 pounds. A few days before the market drop-off, Community Seafood informs subscribers by email what the catch will be, who caught it and how.

“By meeting fishermen on the dock and securing funds from customers, we can pay them up front,” says Community Seafood co-founder Sarah Rathbone. “We can pay fishermen a price they deserve and give customers the freshest product.”

Subscribers will get the best seafood the Santa Barbara Channel has to offer, from swordfish, sheephead, black cod, white seabass and king salmon to halibut, lingcod, ridgeback shrimp, rockfish, mussels, oysters, squid and more.

The Wednesday afternoon pick-up coincides with the Arroyo Food Co-op’s new expanded hours. Beginning on Monday, Jan. 19, the store is now open Monday through Friday 4 – 7 p.m. and weekends, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Arroyo Food Co-op, located at 494 N. Wilson Ave., Pasadena, started as a community project in late 2009, gathering people in the Altadena and Pasadena communities who wanted a place to purchase local, sustainable, and organic foods in their neighborhood. The Co-op is member-owned, but you do not need to be a member to shop there. More info at www.arroyofoodcoop.com.