DOES COPPER RIVER SALMON DESERVE ITS STATUS?
Every May, millions of salmon make their way through the chilly waters of the Pacific to spawn in the rivers in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia. Years before there was even a thought given to farm raising salmon, the folks around the Copper River held a big celebration to welcome back the wild salmon. The event turned into a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign that turned the Copper River king salmon—the first to reach the seasonal market—into the industry’s first designer fish. Today, it still hogs the publicity and fetches the highest price. Yes, the king (Chinook) salmon from the Copper River tastes different. The rugged river produces a gamey flavor and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. But other North American varieties, including the less expensive Copper River sockeye (red) and coho (silver), are equally flavorful. The wholesale price of salmon pulled from the Copper River runs close to $10 per pound higher than salmon caught in other rivers. Industr
