As the Lead Shipping Clerk at Wild Planet Foods, Jamie Huffmon has been instrumental in fulfilling orders as the company has rapidly expanded. Joining early on when the team worked out of a small office in McKinleyville, California, she now expertly runs operations in the much larger Eureka warehouse, fulfilling shipments of our delicious sustainably sourced canned seafood to customers across the country. Her tireless dedication helps bring Wild Planet’s promise of high-quality, ocean-friendly fare to life.

I started working at Wild Planet almost 9 years ago after spending 5 years working as a weighmaster and supervisor on the docks where my team unloaded crab boats and prepared them for shipment. When I first joined Wild Planet, we worked out of a small office in McKinleyville, driving to storage units to retrieve cans of seafood to fill orders.

Now, working out of the expanded Eureka warehouse, I’ve seen the company grow tremendously. During COVID, orders spiked from around 15-20 a day to over 150 a day at times. It was incredibly challenging but also exciting to see so many new people try Wild Planet products. My dedication during high-volume times even earned me the nickname “Wonder Woman” from my colleagues who were amazed at how much I could accomplish.

As Wild Planet expands with new products like our Ready-to-Eat Tuna Salads, I look forward to seeing what sustainable seafood items we might carry in the future. Most of all, I appreciate the small, family feel of Wild Planet where I can truly be myself. I also enjoy knowing that we prioritize educating our consumers on responsible fishing practices like pole and line fishing. More awareness could lead to better ocean health.
 
Sincerely,
Jamie Huffmon
Lead Shipping Clerk, Wild Planet Foods 

With nearly a decade under her belt at Wild Planet, Jamie offers unique insights into Wild Planet’s evolution and future.

Q: What is your favorite Wild Planet product and why?

A: Albacore tuna. I love its mild flavor compared to other fish. But my heart truly belongs to our organic roasted chicken.

Q: Do you have a favorite recipe using Wild Planet products?

A: Either a simple tuna melt with cheddar cheese, or my candied chicken salad! It’s so easy to make with lettuce, chicken, candied walnuts, candied cranberries and raspberry vinaigrette – it’s so good!

Q: Why do you enjoy working at Wild Planet?

A: I like the small, family feel where I can just be myself. I also really appreciate the humor and personality of the team. My colleagues couldn't believe how much my shipping partner, Kathy Roller, and I could handle as a two-woman team shipping out huge volumes of orders, especially during COVID. We just powered through the long days, fueled by caffeine! So, my team dubbed us “Wonder Women”, which stuck. It keeps work fun even during the most hectic times!

Q: Can you share any pivotal turning points in Wild Planet's history?

A: COVID definitely led to a huge spike in new customers trying our products, boosting awareness. Once you taste Wild Planet, you don’t want another brand!

Q: What excites you most about Wild Planet's future?

A: I'm excited to see what new sustainably sourced products are launched. As long as there is warehouse space and consumer demand, I'm excited about the growth. I'd personally love to see canned halibut since that’s what I love to catch when I’m fishing on the weekends!

Q: What does sustainability mean to you and why is it important?

A: It means a lot for the future. If more canned seafood companies worked with fisheries that only practiced selective harvesting like ours, it would really help reinvigorate our oceans.

Q: What do you wish consumers knew about fishing, ocean health or environmental sustainability?

A: I think it would be helpful for consumers to understand exactly how their fish is caught when they’re buying canned tuna. For example, Wild Planet only works with fisheries that use pole and line methods – catching one tuna at a time. This avoids bycatch and helps to keep our oceans plentiful. The more awareness and transparency that consumers have will lead them to better product choices for themselves and their families.

Q: Any special Wild Planet memories you'd like to share?

A: Having a camera crew come film us a few years back when Bill Carvalho, our Founder, was interviewed for a segment by PBS. It was neat highlighting our practices, though tricky to manage while working!