Trader Joe and calamari rings

[OldTimer]

Up until several years ago, we enjoyed frozen calamari rings from Trader Joe's...we can't seem to find out what happened. I have never encountered a more uninformed staff than on the subject of calamari. Does anyone know what the scoop is? They still carry that crap they call "seafood medley"...but no rings.

[Robert Lauriston]

If the squid was coming from China, that would explain it. TJ's dropped all its Chinese products.

[TerriL]

Interesting. I knew they had pared down the number of products from China, but didn't know they had dropped them completely. Do you know when they stopped?

[wolfe]

February 10, 2008
"By April 1, Trader Joe's will phase out single-ingredient Chinese imports such as garlic, frozen organic spinach, ginger and edamame, a green soybean, says spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki. The ban doesn't include products with ingredients from China, a leading source of vitamins and minerals used in many processed foods."

[ML8000]

Costco use to sell frozen calamari, not sure how it stacks up against TJs (probably a ginormus bag) but perhaps worth a look. The flash frozen fish/seasfood from Costco is actually very good for the price.

[OldTimer]

I do not ever remember Costco carrying frozen calamari. To be clear, I am not talking about that pathetic garbage called "battered frozen calamari". Safeway does carry the 3 lb blocks, frozen uncleaned, and some Safeways carry 1 lb frozen, cleaned tubes and tentacles for about $6.00 lb. The TJ rings were very convenient, and about $4.00 lb. It was a good seller, and I don't understand dropping the item. I think it has become very popular and that may account for some shortage.

[Robert Lauriston]

Some branches may not stock it, but Costco has frozen calamari. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product....

[shanghaikid]

for whatever reason, the shortage is supply driven, there is little squid supplies of certain species (from asia) now. thus a shortage of calamari rings.

[DavidT]

You should probably ask this question on the Chains board. It is possible TJ's stores in other parts of the country are stocking the frozen calamari rings.

I would also ask to speak to the manager of the TJ's where you shop. In my experience, the managers of the TJ's stores know their inventory pretty well and can tell you why an item is not available and if/when it might be back in stock.

[Robert Lauriston]

Things come and go at TJ's. I read somewhere that they regularly drop the 10-20% of items that sell the worst.

Fresh local squid is plentiful and cheap at the moment.

[boris_qd]

Where do you get your fresh and plentiful local squid?

[shanghaikid]

the fresh whole squid in the fish markets comes from either monterey and/or san pedro.

[Robert Lauriston]

Monterey Fish.

[wolfe]

Monterey Fish Market also Tokyo Fish.

[shanghaikid]

squid (calamari) has increased in price due to a shortfall in production. supposedly some squid species are hard to find (now). trader joe's is no doubt waiting for the price to fall before they restock.