Your scallops are going to china and europe, not your plate
A surge in global demand, particularly from China and Europe, is redirecting the finest domestic scallops away from U.S. tables and driving up prices at home.
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Food Prices

Key points
- A surge in demand from China and Europe for premium, large-sized U.S. Atlantic sea scallops is redirecting the best of the domestic catch to international markets.
- This export focus drives up prices and reduces availability for American consumers and restaurants, who are often left with smaller, more expensive scallops.
- The U.S. scallop fishery is a major economic success story, but its integration into the global luxury food market means households are now competing with international bidders.
- Consumers may need to adjust expectations, embracing smaller scallop sizes or exploring other types of domestic seafood to offset the rising cost and scarcity of this specific item.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from the public datasets below.
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