Why Pay More For Angelina's?
Here's the difference in a crab shell...
In today's market, almost all of our competitors rely on imported crab from Asia and elsewhere to keep costs down. In most cases that means you're getting an entirely different species than the atlantic blue crab - and you may not even recognize the exotic varieties that are caught and processed thousands of miles away. Some merchants capitalize on the fact that it's hard to distinguish the origin of the crab once mixed up into a tasty cake. But educated consumers are becoming more and more interested in where their food is coming from, and here are a few reasons to ask questions before you buy:
Imported crab is packed with a chemical preservative necessary for overseas transport
Harvesting and processing procedures vary widely from country to country and do not always meet US standards
Buying a domestic product supports the US economy and reduces the impacts of overseas shipping
The flavor of domestic blue crab is superior, as attested by surveys of consumers and food professionals alike
A "Maryland Crab Cake" should be made on the same continent where Maryland is located (it should actually be made in Maryland, but we didn't want to push it)
Angelina's uses 100% domestic US blue crab (callinectes sapidus) in all of our products. We also source as much as possible from local Maryland suppliers - averaging more than 75% of our total purchases - which further supports our local economy and watermen. We've been certified "True Blue" http://www.marylandseafood.org/true_blue.html by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources because of these high standards.
So before you order, make sure to ask the other guys where their crab comes from, and beware of things like "Blue Swimming Crab" on the label - a clear sign that they're selling something other than the best.
Not convinced yet? Don't just take our word for it...