The wild Alaskan King Salmon, also known as chinook salmon, start their early lives off in the clean and pure fresh water streams of the Alaskan mainland. It is in these pristine waters that they grow to young adulthood and start feeling the ever present call of nature heralding the long and arduous migration back to the intrepid and icy waters of Southeastern Alaska, from whence their parents came. It is along this journey that they grow strong, healthy and build up such high reserves of fatty acids that they are comparable to none other in nature. In these deep, frigid waters some of the toughest, and most experienced fishermen use traditional methods to line catch these king salmon while trolling along at the same speed as they swim. This minimizes stress during the catch ensuring a succulent tender flesh with maximum flavor. The fishermen then carefully clean and flash freeze the king salmon at sea within minutes of being caught in order to lock in all the nutritional value, taste and aroma.

What do king salmon look like?

They are mostly a shiny, silvery color with red, blue-green or purple across the back and top of the head with black specks on their tails and upper bodies. The bright red flesh is also a sure giveaway. They average 10 to

50 lbs with the largest reaching up to 130lbs. quite a sight to behold!

Image source:www.nwwildfoods.com

Image source: https://nymag.com/images/2/daily/food/08/04/10_kingsalmon_lg.jpg

Fun fact:

If you want to know about a king salmons birthplace and subsequent life, just check out its otolith (or ear bone). The otolith is created with the chemical signature of the environment that the salmon was spawned in and can reveal the composition of the water it has lived in.

History:

The wild alaskan king salmon or chinook has been revered by numerous native american tribes going back many generations. Among the native people it is common to celebrate the first king salmon caught each Spring with "first salmon ceremonies"

Europeans however have been familiar with the wild alaskan pacific salmon only since around the 18th century. This came about from fur traders and explorers acquiring this king of fish from mostly indigenous peoples of the Northwest via trade. Lewis and Clark have even famously sung the praises of this exotic delicacy.

Why is the wild alaskan salmon superior to farmed salmon?

• Studies have found that fishmeal fed to farmed salmon were heavily contaminated with PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds that have no natural sources)
• PCB's have been used in a variety of industrial applications including for things such as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other equipment.
• These PCB's are absorbed by the fish and stored in their fat.
  Farmed fish traditionally have more fat than wild fish with a more meager nutritional content and much higher amounts of contaminants such as dioxin and other toxic cancer causing chemicals.
• Farmed salmon are often kept in over populated netted areas where disease and parasites can run rampant.
• Wild Alaskan king salmon however, contain extremely high amounts omega 3 which has been proven to help promote heart health and reduce incidences of heart disease and stroke.
• They are also leaner and more flavorful with a lower caloric count due to the long and natural voyage from the clear, fresh rivers to the cold, salty waters of the great ocean.
• They are extremely rich in vitamin D which is excellent for bone health.
• Wild salmon also contains vitamin B-6, niacin and vitamin B-12 to help fight age-related macular degeneration, depression and osteoarthritis.
• Each 3-ounce serving of cooked Alaskan salmon provides nearly 22 grams of protein.
• Wild alaskan salmon is sustainably harvested ensuring this Pacific gem will be around for generations to come.

Where can you buy FAS Wild Alaskan Salmon year round?

Get King Salmon fillets or whole King Salmons and a variety or other wild fish right here!

Nutrition Facts: Wild Alaskan Salmon

Serving Size 1/2 fillet (154 g)

Per Serving % Daily Value*

Calories 280

Calories from Fat 113

Total Fat 12.5g 19%

Saturated Fat 1.9g 10%

Polyunsaturated Fat 5g

Monounsaturated Fat 4.2g

Cholesterol 109mg 36%

Sodium 86mg 4%

Potassium 967.12mg 28%

Carbohydrates 0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0g

Protein 39.2g

Vitamin A 1% · Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 2% · Iron 9%

*Based on a 2000 calorie diet