Southern Seafood Market Reels in Local Flavor
In partnership with: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
More than 30 years ago, two college graduates in Tallahassee began selling the reef fish they caught directly to local restaurants, gaining some needed income while in graduate school. Mark Easterling and his partners quickly realized they had a hit on their hands.
“The demand for fresh local seafood was not being met by local markets, so we made the decision to use whatever funds we could scrape together to set up a storefront in northeast Tallahassee to wholesale and retail fresh seafood,” explains Easterling, President of Southern Seafood Market. “I guess that was the ‘all in’ moment, looking back.”
What began as a small but growing business has now become one of the highest volume seafood markets in the area, with a reputation for excellent local catch and top-notch freshness.
Their success is due in no small part to their connections to harvesters and coastal suppliers who help them source the best treasures of the sea. Whether you’re an everyday consumer or a restaurant owner, buying from local seafood markets is an excellent way to get the best product while supporting the local economy.
Local Means Fresh
Local seafood markets that rely on a network of trusted fishermen deliver fresher products because their logistics are attuned to acquiring great seafood for their customers very quickly.
“For instance, one of our commercial boats may go out on a Wednesday and fish until Thursday night,” Easterling says. “The fish will arrive at the docks, iced heavily, sorted and weighed, and brought to our market. By Friday afternoon, the fresh catch will be in the retail case for our customers. This process is the same for shellfish and other fresh sea products that we receive from other sources who we have been doing business with for decades.”
By comparison, buyers for a retail supermarket with hundreds of stores may need to source farm-raised or frozen imported products. It’s hard to beat the incredible flavors of a fish that was swimming nearby less than 48 hours ago.
Waters around North Florida yield a variety of local catches including blue crab, grouper, gulf red snapper, shrimp and clams throughout the year, as well as seasonal favorites like amberjack, flounder, cobia, pompano and oysters.
Fish Tales and Relationships
The Market strives for high standards because they have so many regular customers – people who have been coming to Southern Seafood since its opening still shop there.
They send out a newsletter and update their social media to ensure everyone knows what wild-caught seafood they have available.
“We have several regulars that come in multiple times a week that want nothing but the freshest seafood possible,” says Matt McCreless, General Manager. “Since the variety changes daily, they trust us enough to buy based on our recommendations. In our opinion, the best advertisement is word of mouth.”
Easterling’s son, Brett, is Vice President of Southern Seafood Market and a key part of continuing the legacy of great seafood and great service. He’s grown up with the business.
Brett and the other team members at Southern Seafood Market know the value of Florida’s many local seafood markets, and they keep their eyes peeled when they travel.
“It’s always nice to us to drive through the coastal towns and visit local seafood markets and see how well they’re doing,” Brett says.