In the hallway of our Sitka, Alaska plant, there is a "wall of fame" where pictures of our co-op boats and the families that operate them hang. It always hits me in the gut when I walk by these pictures--it's a reminder that it truly takes a village to make this all happen. As you can see in this heartwarming video, our co-op is built on the dreams of working families fishing small boats, and these families coming together as a co-op to make a free and independent life.
October is not only National Seafood Month--it's also National Co-op Month and we are celebrating seafood and the power of co-ops. Guided by a set of shared principles and values--among them democracy, equity and solidarity--co-ops play an important role in premium-quality food production. Co-ops are a way for small producers, like family fishing boats, to join together and reach a larger audience while still holding onto their values. In a time when larger corporations are cutting corners on quality, what co-ops do makes a meaningful difference.
Co-ops make a difference in the lives of fishermen like Jaycen Andersen and the Andersen family and for Tad Fujioka, our co-op's Chairman of the Board. Or, our President Norm Pillen, who speaks elegantly of the history of our fishermen-owned co-op in this video. Our people are the difference and you can see that in our co-op's pride. Our co-op has been sustained by quality and pride.
We have a heritage that spans over 80 years of serving fishing families in southeast Alaska.
