Of the approximately 15,000 tons of albacore caught by the tuna fleet associated with the West Coast Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA), about 2,000 tons a year, or 13 percent, is sold through own-label tuna canned in northern California, Oregon and Washington state, WFOA's Wayne Heikkila told IntraFish.
The amount kept for own-label canning was probably less than 500 tons five years ago. "The last few years, it’s starting to reach a tipping point. You’re seeing it in more and more stores around the [Northwest] coast, and inland even," said Heikkila.
"I
