Those with regional economic development interests gathered at Two-25 restaurant in Peoria Tuesday night for an Asian Carp tasting.
The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council’s Regional Asian Carp Task Team offered the event. Phil Caplis is the co-owner of Two-25 and hosted the fish tasting.
Caplis says it’s good tasting fish, but the main driver of the carp industry will not be food-based: “It’s going to be some sort of high level proteins or something for the pharmaceutical industry or something along those lines to be able to sustain the industry to pay the fishermen to keep the product coming.”
Leigh Ann Brown handles economic development and tourism for Pekin and is known as the Task Team’s social chair. She says Asian Carp as a food source is a useful exercise, but the event was also to announce the International Carp Conference planned for July. “We want to bring the prospects that have been at the table: the Government, the community leaders, industry supporters, as far as processing facilities, your food industry together and look at the innovation opportunities.”
Brown says the International Carp Conference July tenth precedes the second annual flying fish festival and tournament.
THE CARP CONVERSATION: Interviews with leaders at the Asian Carp Tasting Event at Two-25
Phil Caplis co-owner of 2-25, and interested in Asian Carp development opportunities
Clint Carter, Carter’s Fish Mart, Springfield, IL, developed an Asian Carp de-boning method
Leigh Ann Brown, Pekin director of economic development and tourism and you’ll hear her referred to as the Regional Carp Czarina
