Immigrating from Russia, Harry Brownstein started delivering smoked fish in a horse-drawn wagon from smokers to shops around Brooklyn in 1906. Four generations later, Emily Caslow, Harry's great granddaughter, is an owner of Acme Smoked Fish and the President of the Acme Smoked Fish Foundation—every day, she gets to align her passion for the family business with philanthropy.

On Season 3, Episode 8 of The Conch, Emily shares everything from how to start a sustainability journey in a company that's over a century old to fantastic tips on reintegrating into the workforce after having kids.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 01:18 Immigrating from Russia, Emily's great grandfather, Harry Brownstein, starts delivering smoked fish in a horse-drawn wagon from smokers to shops around Brooklyn, New York in 1906!
• 3:51 Out of school, Emily realized that she could work both in the family business and in philanthropy—the best of both worlds!
• 6:16 Be ready for anything: How Acme fared as essential workers in the food industry during the global pandemic and managed to continue their beloved Fish Friday program.
• 11:06 How do you start a sustainability journey in a company that's over a century old? By focusing on four key pillars of sustainability, Acme plans to leave the world a better place.
• 15:28 Acme launched the Acme Smoked Fish Foundation to honor Emily's late uncle, Eric Caslow.
• 17:38 In 2022, the foundation launched the Seafood Industry Climate Awards (SICA) to support innovations focused on lowering the carbon footprint within the seafood industry and/or increasing the leadership role of underrepresented groups in the industry. Get to know the winners!
• 21:41 Emily took time off from the family business to raise her children. She shares her tips for reintegrating into the workforce.
• 23:59 We need to keep up the momentum and continue having conversations to support each other in this industry.
• 26:25 Pass the passion: Emily's advice for people wanting to enter the seafood business.
• 28:02 A pandemic silver lining? Work/life balance!
• 30:07 From the source: what living in New York was like during the early stages of the global pandemic.
• 33:43 Emily uplifts the inaugural winners of the SICA awards: Cara O'Donnell at Mi'kmaq Nation, Linda Behnken, Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, and Ben Conniff, Luke's Lobster.

Resources:

1. Learn more about Acme Smoked Fish at www.acmesmokedfish.com and read about the Seafood Industry Climate Awards and the winners here.
2. Recommend this episode to one person who is curious about how a century-old company is leading the way in seafood sustainability and climate awareness.

Credits:

The Conch podcast is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE).

Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado and team at Seaworthy.

Theme music: "Dilation" by Satan's Pilgrims

Funding generously provided by: David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Builders Initiative