DITMARS — Astoria foodies will soon have the chance to reel in a fresh batch of locally-sourced fish each week.
Village Fishmonger, a 'Community Supported Fishery' modeled after a traditional produce CSA, will start delivering weekly seafood and fish shares to Astoria beginning next week.
The Astoria deliveries will launch Aug. 20, and is the result of a partnership between the Village Fishmonger and the Hellgate CSA in Astoria.
"We've had a lot of interest to have us come to Queens," said Sam Lee, who started the Village Fishmonger last year along with her husband, Dennis O'Connor, and their co-founder Sean Dixon.
"We've been trying to make it to Astoria for a while," she said.
The group works with local fisherman and shellfisherman from around New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with an emphasis on responsible fishing practices and avoiding species that have been identified as 'over fished.'
Potential Astoria members can sign up for either a $15 weekly small share — a pound of fish or shellfish, enough for two people for one meal — or a $30 larger share, worth two pounds, or enough for two meals for two people.
Members can also choose from a weekly or bi-weekly pickups for the Astoria season, which will last 16 weeks. Pickups will be every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fresh Start Organic Market at 29-13 23rd Ave.
Like a fruit and vegetable CSA, the specific content of the shares vary from week to week, depending on the time of the season.
"We really do work with the fisherman to see what's coming off the boat — we try to get what's freshest," Lee said.
The main share is usually a fileted fish, she said, and shares at other locations this season have included bluefish, swordfish, fluke, the occasional yellow fin tuna and the less-known golden tilefish.
"It's a great fish, and super local to this region," Lee said "It's kind of in between the texture of fluke and monkfish."
There are also options to add-on shares of other seafood, including oysters, clams, scallops and lobsters.
To sign up for a Village Fishmonger membership, visit their website here.
