Sources

The Importance of Sustainability

Sustainability is top of mind for today’s fishermen, seafood wholesalers, celebrated chefs, and gourmet home cooks. But sustainability is also peace of mind. And of all the extraordinary culinary experiences we offer at Citarella, that might just be the ultimate indulgence we serve.

"Because knowing where it comes from, and how it was sourced, and who caught it is at the foundation of our relentless pursuit of quality. That’s the true power of our decades of experience in the quality seafood business."

Relationships are everything to us. We know our sources. They’re not big conglomerates. They go by John, Willy, Sarah and Steve, Jerry, and Howard. They are people with whom we share a passion for quality and the highest principles. And they are fishermen, crabbers, and oystermen who follow the strict standards set by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for sustainability. That means fishing in a way that doesn’t harm the marine ecosystem.

It’s maintaining a harvesting rate so fish populations don’t decline over time. It’s giving fish a fair fight (i.e. often fishing with lines and hooks, the old-fashioned way). And it’s working with purveyors implementing state-of-the-art aquaculture practices to revolutionize how farmed seafood is sourced.

"Like our partners in northern Italy, the master artisans of Calvisano, who not only produce a tantalizingly delicious array of prime caviars but have also worked tirelessly to replenish rivers worldwide with previously endangered stocks of sturgeon."

Or at Ora King, where the pristine waters of New Zealand’s Marlborough Sound provide the foundation for the cultivation of one of the world’s most sustainable protein sources. Ora King salmon boasts marbled fat and clean, rich flavor. It’s also the first and only ocean-farmed salmon to achieve the prestigious “Best Choice” rating from Seafood Watch.

And closer to home, just off the coast of Long Island, Fishers Island Oysters is dedicated to cultivating bold and briny artisan oysters while working to combat climate change with their non-profit Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition. All impressively sustainable, all palate-enticingly delicious—this is hands down some of the most decadent caviar, the most buttery salmon, and the most distinctively nuanced oysters on the market. Period.

"When we look to the future, we recognize that the long-term health of our company (and our way of life) is contingent on the long-term health of fisheries around the world."

That’s why, from Nova Scotia lobsters to Florida stone crab to locally caught Atlantic striped bass, we are completely dedicated to ethically sourcing seafood with minimal impact to the environment. It’s in good taste. It’s even better business. And at Citarella gourmet market, it’s our privilege to be your source for sustainability.