Snow crab and Jonah crab: formats, grades and counts for buyers
Crab buyers face a wider choice of formats and grades than almost any other seafood. Getting the spec right keeps your costs predictable and your customers happy. This guide covers the two crabs Victoria Co-operative Fisheries supplies — snow crab and Jonah crab — and how to choose between formats.
Snow crab formats
Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) is sold mainly cooked and brine-frozen:
- Sections — graded by weight: 4 oz, 5–8 oz, 8–10 oz, 10 oz and 12 oz. Larger grades carry a premium and a higher meat yield.
- Gulf vs non-Gulf — a designation of harvest area that buyers in some markets specify; ask your supplier which is available.
- Legs and clusters — for premium presentation.
- K-pack (broken) sections — value product where appearance matters less.
- Cooked meat — for ready meals and value-added lines.
Jonah crab: the value alternative
Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is a hard-shelled North Atlantic crab with firm, sweet meat, especially in the large claws. We supply it ocean-run — that is, ungraded as landed — across the 4.5 to 6 inch-plus size range, packed in 5 kg. For processors and foodservice operators, it is both a complement to snow crab and a more economical option.
How to choose
Match the format to the application: sections and legs for retail and foodservice presentation, K-pack and meat for further processing, and Jonah crab where firm claw meat and value matter. Specify grade, pack size and any Gulf/non-Gulf requirement up front, and confirm the certifications your market needs (our snow crab is MSC certified).
Tell us the format and volume you need and we'll confirm current grades, landings and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What do snow crab section grades mean?
Sections are graded by weight — 4 oz, 5–8 oz, 8–10 oz, 10 oz and 12 oz. Larger grades generally carry a higher meat yield and price; some markets also specify Gulf or non-Gulf harvest areas.
What does 'ocean-run' Jonah crab mean?
Ocean-run means the crab is supplied as landed, ungraded, across a size range — for us, 4.5 to 6 inches-plus, packed in 5 kg. It is a value-oriented option valued for firm claw and body meat.
Which crab format is best for further processing?
K-pack (broken) snow crab sections and cooked meat suit further processing, while Jonah crab is popular where firm claw meat is the goal. Sections and legs are chosen where presentation matters.
Further reading
Quote snow crab or Jonah crab
Send the format, grade and volume and we'll confirm current availability and pricing.