Product Offerings
Products:
Finfish: Yellowtail Snapper
Shellfish: Brown Shrimp, White Shrimp
Water Street Seafood, Inc., located in Apalachicola, Florida, is a well-established seafood processor and distributor with a longstanding reputation for delivering high-quality wild-caught Gulf seafood. Serving customers across the southeastern United States and beyond, the company has built its legacy on fresh sourcing, sustainable fishing practices, and consistent supply of Gulf Coast specialties.
Core Business and Product Portfolio
Water Street Seafood specializes in the procurement, processing, and distribution of premium finfish and shellfish sourced from the Gulf of Mexico. Its product offerings include:
-
Shellfish:
- Wild-Caught Brown Shrimp
- Wild-Caught White Shrimp
-
Finfish:
- Yellowtail Snapper
These products are available in various formats, including head-on, peeled and deveined, block frozen, IQF, and customized pack sizes suitable for foodservice distributors and retail partners.
Specialization and Core USP
The company’s key differentiators are:
- Proximity to Gulf waters, allowing rapid handling of fresh catch from dock to processing
- Vertical integration with local fisheries, ensuring transparency and consistency
- Specialization in wild-caught shrimp and snapper, known for superior flavor and texture compared to farmed alternatives
Water Street Seafood is recognized for its ability to deliver high-volume orders of shrimp and finfish while maintaining strict quality control and customer-specific packing requirements.
Certifications and Compliance
Water Street Seafood operates under full compliance with U.S. food safety and seafood inspection standards. These include:
- FDA registration and monitoring
- Compliance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) protocols
- USDA and NOAA oversight for traceability and labeling
- Alignment with Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council sustainability guidelines
These systems ensure that the company meets regulatory expectations and food safety benchmarks for domestic and export markets.
Market Reach and Customer Base
The company primarily services:
- Foodservice distributors and restaurant groups
- Regional seafood wholesalers
- Retail chains focusing on wild-caught seafood programs
Water Street Seafood supplies products throughout Florida, the Gulf Coast region, and parts of the southeastern United States. The company's direct sourcing from the Gulf enables it to offer:
- Seasonally available shrimp species with full traceability
- Competitive pricing compared to imported products due to domestic supply control
- Flexible order fulfillment, from small-scale local buyers to regional distributors
Infrastructure and Capabilities
From its Apalachicola base, Water Street Seafood operates:
- Seafood processing facilities with peeling, deveining, sorting, and freezing lines
- Cold storage infrastructure to support bulk inventory and distribution
- Packaging capabilities for custom labeling, private label, and institutional foodservice formats
- Logistics partnerships for regional and interstate cold chain distribution
The company's location near historic fishing grounds also supports same-day processing for select species during peak seasons.
Sustainability and Sourcing
Water Street Seafood places a strong emphasis on sustainable fishing and responsible resource use. The company works with:
- Local shrimpers and independent fishing vessels
- Gulf Coast sustainability programs
- Fisheries that comply with seasonal catch quotas and bycatch reduction standards
By supporting small-scale and community-based fishing operations, Water Street contributes to the economic vitality of Apalachicola and reinforces the long-term sustainability of regional marine ecosystems.
Leadership and History
Led by Steven C. Rash, a seasoned seafood industry executive, Water Street Seafood has operated for multiple decades as a pillar of the Apalachicola seafood community. Under his leadership, the company has prioritized transparency, quality, and strong customer relationships.
The company is known for its commitment to the region’s fishing heritage, supporting economic development initiatives and environmental stewardship.
Summary
Water Street Seafood, Inc. exemplifies the values of regional seafood excellence—offering high-quality wild Gulf shrimp and snapper through a tightly controlled, community-oriented supply chain. With decades of operational experience, compliance with rigorous U.S. safety standards, and a focus on sustainability, Water Street Seafood remains a trusted supplier for buyers seeking traceable, flavorful, and responsibly sourced American seafood.