AgCenter, Sea Grant to host field day at new seafood lab Nov. 9

JEANERETTE, LOUSIANA

   The LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant will hold a field day Nov. 9 at their recently opened Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab in Jeanerette.

   The event will begin at 10 p.m. and end at 3 p.m., with lunch provided. The facility is located at the AgCenter Iberia Research Station, 603 LSU Bridge Road.

   The lab – the only one of its kind in Louisiana – opened in July with the goal of helping potential and existing seafood processors explore opportunities and new concepts in processing, packaging and value-added seafood products. It features commercial processing equipment that is used for demonstration, training and research.

   The field day will give attendees a chance to see the equipment and learn about educational and outreach programs.

   The agenda for the day includes the following topics:

• Overview of the facility and future training opportunities.

• Refrigeration equipment and techniques.

• Seafood cleaning and cutting.

• Packaging and labeling.

• Freezing and storage.

Specialized tools such as a flake ice machine, bandsaw, shrimp splitter, grinder, scales, vacuum packer, air freezing equipment and plate freezer will be showcased. ∆

 Thomas Hymel and Evelyn Watts, of the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, stand next to equipment in the Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab in Jeanerette.

 LSU AgCenter photo