North Carolina’s commercial trout growers sold 4.0 million pounds of trout in 2009 up 5% from the 3.8 million pounds of trout sold in 2008. The total value of sales totaled $7.2 million, up 1% from the previous year.
North Carolina ranks third in the nation in trout sales behind Idaho and California. Value of sales for trout 12 inches and longer increased 2% to $6.5 million and averaged $1.73 per pound. Pounds sold were 3.8 million, up 6% from a year earlier.
Nationally, the total value of sales received by trout growers totaled $76.9 million for 2009, down 4% from the previous year. Idaho accounted for 47% of the total value of fish sold. NORTH CAROLINA CATFISH SALES DOWN Catfish sales in North Carolina totaled $5.5 million in 2009, down 24% from $7.2 million in 2008.
The average price received for foodsize catfish decreased from 85 cents per pound in 2008 to 84 cents per pound in 2009, which is 10 cents above the national average. North Carolina producers received more per pound than producers in the leading catfish production states of Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.
By point of first sale, direct sales to processors accounted for 95% of total foodsize fish sales, down from 96% the previous year. North Carolina ranks 7th nationally in total catfish sales. Catfish growers in the U.S. had sales of $373 million during 2009, down 9% from the previous year. The top four states, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas, accounted for 93% of total US sales.
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