Tracing the Origins: An In-Depth Look at Where Censea Shrimp Comes From

As one of the largest frozen seafood importers in the United States, Censea provides high-quality shrimp to customers across the country But where exactly does all that shrimp originate? I decided to dive deeper into Censea’s supply chain to uncover the diverse global origins of its shrimp products.

An Overview of Censea Shrimp Sourcing

Censea shrimp is sourced from a variety of regions around the world including

• Asia – Major source countries like India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China
• Central and South America – Key exporting countries in this region
• United States – Wild-caught shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific coasts
• Other regions – Smaller volumes from various countries globally

The company offers both wild-caught and farm-raised shrimp. This diversified sourcing strategy allows Censea to maintain a consistent inventory and provide shrimp year-round, even when seasonal factors may limit supply from certain areas.

Sourcing Standards and Certifications

In addition to geographic diversity of supply, Censea prioritizes adhering to strict standards and certifications when sourcing shrimp. These include:

• Marine Stewardship Council certification – Verifies sustainable and responsible wild-caught seafood
• Best Aquaculture Practices certification – Audits shrimp farms to ensure sustainable methods
• Additional quality assurance protocols – Censea audits all suppliers to guarantee shrimp quality and safety

By partnering with certified suppliers, Censea can provide customers with shrimp that not only tastes great but is an ocean-friendly choice.

Traceability from Ocean to Plate

A key advantage of Censea’s supply chain is its focus on traceability. Utilizing batch coding and tracking systems, Censea can trace its shrimp back to the specific region, farm, or fishery where it originated.

This traceability allows Censea to quickly identify and resolve any potential quality issues and verify sustainability claims. It also provides customers with supply chain transparency.

Diverse Shrimp Species and Products

Censea supplies a wide variety of shrimp species and products including:

• Black Tiger shrimp – A premium, wild-caught species with a signature striped pattern
• White shrimp – A mild, farm-raised shrimp common in stir-fries and salads
• Organic shrimp – Sourced from certified organic sustainable farms
• Raw, peeled, deveined shrimp – Tail-on and tail-off options available
• Cooked shrimp – Fully cooked and chilled shrimp ready for any recipe
• Shrimp skewers – For easy grilling and no mess
• Breaded and coated shrimp – Hand-breaded or panko options
• Shrimp burgers and cakes – For delicious sandwiches and entrées
• Small-size shrimp – Perfect for salads, pastas, and appetizers
• Jumbo shrimp – Impress guests with these colossal shrimp
• Shrimp value packs – Budget-friendly bagged and frozen options

With this huge product selection, Censea can supply any shrimp product a customer needs.

The Path from the Source to the Store

Once shrimp is harvested from a coastal fishery or farm, how does it make its way to become a frozen Censea product? Here is a high-level overview:

• Shrimp is caught or harvested and immediately iced down on the fishing boat or at the farm.
• It is transported to a nearby processing facility where it is graded, cleaned, and subject to quality control checks.
• The raw shrimp then goes into cold storage before being packed into frozen blocks and loaded into refrigerated containers.
• Containers are shipped via ocean freight to Censea’s facilities in the United States.
• Upon arrival, Censea conducts another round of quality control before repackaging the shrimp for distribution.
• Censea stores the shrimp inventory in its cold storage warehouses until orders are received.
• Customer orders are carefully packed and shipped frozen to retailers, restaurants, and distributors across the country.

Maintaining cold temperatures is critical throughout this process to prevent any decline in freshness or quality.

Why Censea Shrimp is Known for Being High-Quality

Censea has established a reputation for unmatched shrimp quality and freshness. What sets their shrimp apart?

• Stringent supplier approval process – Censea thoroughly vets all suppliers and inspects their facilities.

• Exacting specifications – Size, count per pound, color – Censea specifications exceed industry norms.

• Handling expertise – Proper icing, processing, freezing, and cold chain management.

• Frequent supply chain audits – Censea staff routinely inspect and audit the supply chain.

• Customer focus – Censea will customize products to a customer’s needs.

• R&D innovations – Censea invests in research to improve quality and sustainability.

• Transparent traceability – Detailed tracking provides supply chain visibility.

• Seasoned staff – Many employees have 10+ years in the seafood industry.

By leveraging this combination of supply chain rigor, technical expertise, and customer service, Censea has become synonymous with top-notch shrimp.

Censea’s Commitment to Sustainability

In addition to quality, Censea has made sustainability a core value. Its efforts include:

• Partnerships with reputable suppliers and producers that follow sustainable practices.

• Seeking out Marine Stewardship Council and Best Aquaculture Practices certified sources.

• Investment in research and technology to improve sustainability.

• Promoting sustainable fishing policies and regulations globally.

• Transparent tracking to reduce illegal, unreported fishing.

• Courting consumer awareness of seafood sustainability issues.

Censea’s initiatives help ensure the world’s shrimp resources can remain robust for generations to come.

Censea Shrimp: A Global Success Story

By tapping into a diverse network of shrimp suppliers across the Americas, Asia, and beyond, Censea has assembled an unrivaled supply chain able to deliver exceptional shrimp to its customers 365 days a year. The company’s rigorous quality assurance, innovative R&D, and commitment to sustainability make it a leader in bringing the ocean’s bounty from source to table. So next time you enjoy outstanding shrimp, it very well may have come from Censea’s far-reaching global supply chain.