Canned Alaskan pink salmon, with its high protein content and beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids, is a key component of a number of international food aid programs sponsored by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). The initiative began in 2005, and has grown considerably, as demand continues to outstretch supply. The long shelf life and nutritional content make the fish an ideal food for supporting needy food banks in a number of countries and communities where hunger is a problem, including within the United States.
A variety of projects, including disaster relief and child care programs in places as diverse as Cambodia, Jamaica, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Swaziland, have benefited from canned Alaskan salmon. School lunch programs in the U.S. have also used the resource to positive effect.
Canned salmon is an especially good choice for children, as the protein and beneficial fats in the fish are easily metabolized by people of all ages.