First, some background information about Wild Caught vs. Farmed Atlantic Salmon...

In the wild, salmon spend their first two or three years in freshwater until they undergo a transformation which allows them to live in saltwater, known as smoltification. Once smoltification is complete, salmon travel to the sea where they can grow up to 20 lbs.   When salmon reach sexual maturity, in 4 to 5 years, they travel to the stream or river where they were hatched, to spawn and start the cycle anew. Unfortunately wild stocks of salmon began to decline in the early 1980's, and currently are not abundant enough to meet the entire demand for salmon.

Farm-raised salmon have filled the demand not met by wild caught Atlantic salmon and are leading imported aquaculture product into the United States. On farms, salmon eggs are collected from broodstock, and hatched fry are reared under carefully controlled conditions. Salmon on farms can reach market size in 18 months - 2 years. (How salmon are farmed)

Recently, farm-raised salmon have faced criticism as a result of poor environmental practices. In response, and as a part of our ChoiceCatch project, TOPS has developed internal environmental standards for evaluating salmon farms. We currently source our farm-raised salmon from specific farms in Chile that meet or exceed these standards, ensuring that our customers get the best quality salmon possible, and our farms operate within the best possible environmental practices available.