That Fine Kentucky Shrimp

[Carrot Top]

The farmers of Kentucky are growing a new sort of crop - shrimp.

I love this idea. More shrimp for everyone.

It's great to see this happening - the difficulties of growing shrimp are higher than growing fish.

The relatively high cost of raising the prawns is also a barrier to quick sale. Moreland pays Coyle three cents apiece for his 40,000 hatchlings, each barely larger than a grain of sand. Add the cost of twice-daily feedings and electricity to keep the indoor tanks warm until the prawns are transferred to outdoor ponds in June, and costs quickly mount.

Kentucky shrimpers are targeting niche markets: ethnic Asians who like live seafood, high-end consumers willing to pay more for fresh prawns, and zoos and aquariums with hungry penguins to feed and budgets to pay for the best.