What are the differences between wild carp and farmed carp?
There is a difference in the sizing, taste and firmness of the wild carp meat. The diet of wild carp varies throughout the year. Like other wild fish, the variety of natural food consumed by carp and the constant work in the river current, give wild carp meat a very “sweet” taste and firm texture. The size of the fish varies, too. Wild carp in Lake Pepin are roughly 2.0 kg – 4.0 kg (4.0-10.0 lbs). In fact, the average weight of an adult female wild carp in Lake Pepin, Minnesota is 3.1 kg (7.0 lbs.). Farmed carp are grown in ponds. The farmed fish are consistently fed with the same food pellets. Each farm grown carp grows roughly to the same size, as the carp are not active. Most farm-raised carp reach an average size of 1.5 kg (3.0 lbs). Their taste is typically much blander than wild caught carp and the pond raised carp meat is not firm and flaky. Chefs, restaurants and consumers prefer the size, taste and quality of wild carp meat. It’s our goal at Great River Fish Company to supply
