New Zealand King Salmon Company (NZKS) has announced the availability of its King salmon breed, Ora King, at foodservice trade and select finer retail markets across New Zealand.
The company noted that the Ora King brand is the result of its sustainable practices developed during 20 years of farming in the waters of the South Island's Marlborough Sounds.
Ora King breeding program supervisor Ian Rolmanis said that the company's classical breeding program blends 20 years of husbandry practices and seven generations of King salmon.
"This has produced over 90 distinct King salmon families, chosen so that only the finest examples of King salmon, with the best culinary traits, are carried forward to subsequent generations," Rolmanis added.
The salmon are humanely harvested using a percussive stunning method based on the traditional Japanese Ike Jime technique, which results in a desirable texture. In addition, an individually numbered Ora King gill tag is attached to the product to facilitate authenticity of origin and traceability for customers.
Although they are an introduced species, Ora King salmon pose no threat to indigenous wild populations. Their feed is sourced from sustainable, certified GMO-free suppliers. No antibiotics, vaccines or pesticides of any kind are used for their growth, the company said.
To date, Ora King salmon are sold whole or as fillets via seafood distributors to restaurants and specialty retailers across the US. The company also offers Ora King Smoked Salmon, a traditional cold smoked salmon that is filleted and pinboned by hand, brined with sea salt and cold water, and slowly smoked for nine hours over native manuka wood.
