Chicken of the Sea... Product of Thailand?!?!

Just got off the phone w/ Mum; She's visiting Canada and was surprised to see that all their canned tuna (in non-Asian markets) were product of Thailand. She's fairly certain the Starkist/Tuna of the Sea/Bumblebee tuna she's been buying in the states is PRODUCT OF USA. So, she decided to pick up sardines, MADE IN NEW BRUNSWICK while in Canada. I relate this story to my wife, and then she says, "Where is our tuna (from Costco) from?" Why, USA of course, as I saunter to the pantry... I pick up a can to confirm and LO AND BEHOLD -- Product of Thailand!?!?!

When did US tuna brands start getting sourced from Thailand?

Update: From a 1992 article:

"As of March 1990, only one small tuna cannery is still operating within the United States; Starkist, with about 36% of the U.S. market (Iverson, 1987), is the only U.S. company still operating in American Samoa or Puerto Rico"

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?recor ... 83&page=31

"Van Camp Seafood (Chicken of the Sea), with about 20% of the U.S. market (Iverson, 1987), was sold in 1988 to an Indonesian company, and Bumble Bee, with about 15.5% of the U.S. market (Iverson, 1987), was sold in 1989 to a Thai company."

Update Again: From Wiki

"In 1988, Ralston sold its Van Camp division to an Indonesian corporation, P.T. Mantrust, which had financial problems, and the primary creditor, Prudential Life Insurance, became the majority owner. When the company was purchased in 1997 by the investment group Tri-Union Seafoods, the name was changed to Chicken of the Sea International. The investment group sold the company in 2000 to Thai Union International, making it the sole owner."

I buy most of my tuna from http://www.tunaguys.net Their fish is all USA/Canada caught, and they can it in the Northwest. They are not cheap, but it is a very good product. Their albacore is better than any normal store brand, and their "Spanish Style yellowfin" is excellent. Their smoked products are very good too, but a bit sweet for my taste.

-Will

So, are the tunaguys the "one small tuna cannery ... still operating in the United States"?

Bumble Bee files for bankruptcy.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/22/business ... index.html

I've been doing a little searching for info on canned tuna and salmon. I'll try to post something more informative later, but here are a few things I found today: (a) a Greenpeace rating of canned tuna products, and (b) the website of American Tuna, #2 on the Greenpeace list, which appears to be sold at Whole Foods stores, among other places, although I haven't checked at my local WF yet. I went searching for American Tuna because I figured I already knew where to find the Wild Planet and 365 products, #1 and #3 on the Greenpeace list. The Tuna Guys company that Will mentioned is not listed; I wonder if this is because they're mail order only, not retail.

I took a look at the Kirkland (Costco) albacore tuna cans I have in the pantry. Greenpeace doesn't have much complimentary to say about Costco's tuna sourcing, but I will mention they're labeled "Product of Fiji - Canned in the USA."

I have not ordered from Tuna Guys in years. My favorite was the spanish style which they stopped making, at least as far as I can tell. My latest order was from Chuck's Seafood, which was recommended by BudRichard (I think) in another thread. I have only had 1 can so far but it is very good and a bit less expensive than Tuna Guys, with more variety.

-Will