Local, Green, and Fair Snapshot: Meet Greencrab.org
By Laila Salman and Julian Peña, SBN Interns
Local businesses understand the demands of the communities that they serve. They can identify problems faced by consumers and provide solutions for the improvement of the community. In doing so, businesses can exhibit the local, green, and fair qualities that SBN’s Snapshot campaign seeks to capture. As businesses navigate these unique challenges and obstacles, we want to highlight their unique core values and showcase why they are important members of SBN.
Greencrab.org’s mission is to reduce the population of their namesake species by developing new markets among consumers for the green crab. The invasive green crab has been responsible for decimating native soft-shell clam populations, in addition to other species, such as turtles and eels. Greencrab.org works to counter the invasiveness of the green crab in order to preserve the various marine species and marine ecosystem.
Greencrab.org
Green crabs are a bait species for fishermen, resulting in consumers overlooking them as a food option. They are smaller than most crabs, but they can contribute a unique flavor to meals. Greencrab.org strives to reveal how green crabs can be incorporated into dishes with the hope of swaying chefs and consumers to opt for green crabs. By providing this knowledge to chefs and wholesalers, Greencrab.org hopes to use these individuals as opinion leaders for the general public. As a result, a collective effort will aid in reducing the green crab population.
Like many organizations, Greencrab.org has felt the effects of COVID-19, but have adapted to the new landscape of engagement in order to continue educating consumers about the green crab. The organization introduced their “Schuck at Home” campaign in order to highlight effective methods of cooking green crab through fun and interactive cooking demonstrations led by experienced green crab cooks. On their website, Greencrab.org also shares innovative recipes involving the invasive species, such as green crab bouillabaisse 2 ways, sweet corn salad with green crab roe, and green crab tomato bisque.
Greencrab.org is looking for sustainability in unique places, and obstacles like COVID-19 have not hindered their motivation to do so. In educating the public on the usability of green crabs in recipes, Greencrab.org is maintaining the diversity and abundance of marine life. We are excited to see the impact that they continue to make in the sustainable culinary space!