APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Folks looking to enjoy perch during their traditional Lenten season will likely find some — but will have to pay a little extra for a plate on Friday nights.
“When we do have Great Lakes perch its more expensive, but it is available.”
Restaurants are dipping into funds, to make sure perch is on the menu.
Mike Utech is the Manager of Appleton American Legion Club 38 Bar and Grill. He tells FOX 11 the average price of Great Lakes yellow perch in 2015 was about $10 per pound. Now, its selling for about $15.
“It’s been difficult to get lake perch from Wisconsin or the Great Lakes much of that is too expensive or not being caught.”
“So why is the price for perch so expensive right now?” asked FOX 11.
“Twenty ninteen into 2020, the last two years there has been an incredible shortage driven the price up,” responded Dave Fischer, a seafood specialist at Meat Processors Inc. in Green Bay.
He says the pandemic led restaurants to sit on expensive perch inventory.
“So with COVID restaurants either being shut down completely or limited the demand is much, much less.”
Fischer says one of his customers typically buys seven to eight hundred pounds of perch for lent, but this year only bought about two hundred pounds.
“If you got product in the freezer that you got $12-$12.50 a pound in, you certainly don’t want to sell it at $10,” said Fischer.
He says not to worry about the short lent season.
“If you are talking the short term through Lent, absolutely.”
Like Fischer, the Appleton Legion is also confident there is enough perch for Friday nights,
“We have enough perch to last us for the Lenten season no question,” said Utech.
Fischer says the lack of food service means more people are eating at home, and the grocery store seafood demand is higher than ever.
