American Shrimp Processors Association
The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) was formed in 1964 to represent and promote the interests of the domestic, U.S. wild-caught, warm water shrimp processing industry along the Gulf Coast with members from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. We are the collective voice of the industry, and our focus is to promote the interests of shrimp processors, other segments of the U.S. domestic wild-caught shrimp industry and the general public.
Our efforts also include raising awareness with retail establishments, the foodservice industry and consumers about the benefits and superior qualities of U.S. domestic wild-caught warm water shrimp.
ASPA member processors represent over 13,035 American jobs and more than $30 million in annual wages. Our mission is to support the industry with tools and strategies to help it survive and thrive.
Other services we provide to our members:
- Keep membership informed on problems of both domestic and international interest to the industry.
- Develop and maintain (with the mutual cooperation of other industry organizations, and state and federal research and regulatory organizations) programs of quality improvement and to promote the general well being of the industry.
- Collect, prepare, and disseminate information concerning the industry to its members, the general public, and appropriate state and federal agencies and to support efforts to enhance the perception of excellence of quality in domestically processed shrimp.
- Provide for cooperative action by the shrimp industry on state, regional and the national issues important to the domestic industry.
History
The American Shrimp Processors Association was formed in 1964 as the American Shrimp Canners Association. During this time most shrimp were canned and most of its original members also processed canned oysters. Most processors also had begun to process frozen shrimp-but on a limited scale. As public taste changed, the industry changed along with it. In the early 1970’s, few canners existed, with most having moved entirely to frozen products. Because of the changing industry, the name was changed to the American Shrimp Canners and Processors Association in 1979. By 1985, all vestiges of the canning industry were gone, and the name changed again to the American Shrimp Processors Association.