How a Louisiana Crawfish Company Harvests 60,000 Pounds a Day

Introduction

Parish Seafood Wholesale, a crawfish company based in Louisiana, has become a major player in the industry by processing an impressive 4 million pounds of crawfish each year. Founder Madison McIntyre has witnessed the company's growth firsthand, with revenues reaching $500,000 in 2022. The crawfish industry is a significant contributor to Louisiana's economy, generating around $300 million annually. Let's delve deeper into the fascinating process by which Parish Seafood Wholesale harvests 60,000 pounds of crawfish every day.

The Rise of the Crawfish Industry in Louisiana

Louisiana is responsible for producing 90% of the crawfish found in the United States. Most of these crawfish are farmed in rice fields located in a 35-square-mile area near Welsh, Louisiana. The crawfish industry gained mainstream attention in the 1980s when rice farmers began experimenting with cultivating crawfish in their fields. The success of these experiments led to a thriving business, boosting Louisiana's economy by $300 million annually. This growth has paved the way for a new generation of farmers like Madison McIntyre, who have taken the industry to new heights.

The Crawfish Harvesting Process

Every September and October, rice farmers in Louisiana flood their fields, prompting the crawfish to surface in search of food. This is when Parish Seafood Wholesale springs into action, using traps to catch the crawfish. Workers navigate the fields in pedal-controlled boats, swiftly retrieving the traps, transferring the crawfish to their boats, and rebaiting the traps in a matter of seconds. Quick action is necessary to prevent the crawfish from perishing in the intense Louisiana heat once removed from the water.

Transportation and Processing

After being caught, the crawfish are loaded onto trucks and transported to a crawfish dock, where they are weighed and placed in coolers to protect them from the heat. Subsequently, the crawfish are washed using a conveyor machine, which costs $150,000. Once cleaned, they are returned to the coolers. Parish Seafood Wholesale aims to sell its larger, high-grade crawfish within 12 to 24 hours of capture. However, the process can be challenging due to the lack of regulation in the industry.

Smaller crawfish, on the other hand, are sold by McIntyre to his own restaurants and other products. These crawfish are sent to a separate factory, where their tail meat is processed. First, the crawfish are dumped into tanks for a second wash. Then, they are dropped into a large basket, which is submerged in a pot of boiling water. After boiling, the crawfish are taken to a peeling room, where they are peeled by hand.

The Art of Crawfish Peeling

Leona Williams, an experienced peeler at Parish Seafood Wholesale, has been peeling crawfish for 50 years. She learned the skill from her mother when she was just 13 years old. Williams explains that peeling crawfish involves breaking off the head before pinching the tail to extract the meat. The peelers are paid approximately $2.50 per pound and must work quickly to earn a sufficient income. Despite the demanding nature of the job, many peelers have mastered the art and can peel around 40 pounds of crawfish daily.

Challenges and Future Plans

Madison McIntyre plans to open another facility that will focus on air freight. However, he faces stiff competition as the number of crawfish farms in Louisiana has more than doubled since 2000. Inflation has also posed challenges, causing McIntyre's costs to soar by over 40%. Fuel expenses alone have increased by more than $150,000 compared to 2022. Additionally, the majority of McIntyre's workforce consists of visa holders, for whom he is responsible for housing and transportation. Despite these obstacles, Parish Seafood Wholesale achieved profits of around $500,000 last year, and McIntyre reinvested over 80% of that amount back into the company.

Conclusion

The crawfish industry in Louisiana continues to thrive, with Parish Seafood Wholesale at the forefront of the business. Harvesting an impressive 60,000 pounds of crawfish daily, the company plays a crucial role in the state's economy. Madison McIntyre's dedication and passion for the industry have propelled his company to new heights. As the industry evolves and faces various challenges, Parish Seafood Wholesale remains a trailblazer, setting the standard for crawfish harvesting and processing in Louisiana and beyond.

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By: kniemeyer@insider.com (Kenneth Niemeyer)
Title: How a Louisiana Crawfish Company Harvests 60,000 Pounds a Day
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/louisiana-company-processes-4-million-pounds-of-crawfish-a-year-2023-12
Published Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:55:50 +0000