Alaska Air Cargo delivers first salmon of season

   About 18,000 pounds of fresh Copper River salmon arrived on an Alaska Airlines plane touching down at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly after 6:30 a.m. Friday to mark the start of the salmon season.
   Alaska Air Cargo delivered more than 22 tonnes of Copper River salmon to the Lower 48 by noon Friday, with more scheduled for flights later in the day.
   “Supporting the Alaska seafood industry has been a core part of the airline’s history,” said Jason Berry, Alaska Air Cargo managing director. “We applaud the state of Alaska and our seafood partners for setting the standard for sustainable fishing practices, which allows salmon lovers to enjoy some of the best fish in the world.”
   Copper River salmon shipped on Alaska Air Cargo arrives fresh to grocery stores and restaurants across the nation, thanks in part to a cold chain process, an annual training program required of all airline employees who handle perishables, the airline said. The goal is to keep seafood moving rapidly throughout its journey on Alaska Airlines and maintain a consistent temperature range from the time it leaves the water to when it arrives at stores and restaurants.
   Every year Alaska Air Cargo partners with the state of Alaska’s three largest seafood processors — Trident Seafoods, Ocean Beauty Seafoods and Copper River Seafoods — to bring the coveted salmon to Seattle and Anchorage, where it will then be delivered to restaurants and grocery stores throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country. The carrier flew nearly 14 million pounds of fresh Alaska seafood to the Lower 48 states and beyond last year, including more than 85,000 pounds of Copper River salmon.