and involved a considerable volume of albacore, about 1,250,000 potinds, 

 which vfas marketed fresh in a period of a few weeks. An effort was made 

 to have the tuna sold through retail stores at a price no greater than 

 25 cents a pound and that seems to have been the standard practice. Recipes 

 for cooking and instructions for freezing and canning were distributed 

 with the tuna. Here again there is little evidence available as to the 

 current situation, that is, whether this distribution had a continuing 

 effect upon sales of fresh tuna or whether there is an increasing consump- 

 tion as time goes on. What information has been obtained is negative in 

 character. 



On the west coast, and particularly in California, there are consider^ 

 able numbers of people with backgrounds in Mediterranean countries, as well 

 as many Mexicans and people of Mexican origin who may also trace back to 

 Spain to some extent. In addition, there is a considerable element of 

 Oriental origin. These national origins may have an effect on the possibil- 

 ity of increasing the ccnsumption of fresh and frozen tuna in that area. 

 It seems probable, in view of what is known of Oriental food preferences, 

 that sudi consumption mi^t well eiqpa.nd among these people. Doubtless they 

 would make a marked distinction between the various species of tuna. Prob- 

 ably the reaction of people with origins in eastern Asia, such as those 

 deriving from the Japanese, would be different from others, such as those 

 springing from Philippine stock. 



One phase of the consumption of fresh and frozen tuna should be men- 

 tioned, namely, the heme canning of the product. Indications turned up 

 in our inquiries point to some use of tuna for this purpose. It was esti- 

 mated that about half of the 1,250,000 pounds sold fresh during the union' s 

 campaign in California in 1951 was utilized for home earning. The union 

 also canned about 150,000 pounds for its monbers. However, little interest 

 was shown in 1952 and it does not seem probable that the use of tuna for 

 this purpose will reach any significant proportions , 



The scanty information available from experiences in the distribution 

 of fresh tuna would indicate that, if adequately promoted, several million 

 pounds annually could be disposed of in this manner in the United States 

 and that the price realized could be greater than that paid for raw stocks 

 for conwercial' canning. The prospects are, however, that no such promotion 

 will be undertaken and that commercial canning will continue to absorb 

 practically all production and importation of tuna in fresh and frozen form. 



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