LAFAYETTE (AP) — They’re smaller and scarcer than in years past, but crawfish are expected to be in huge demand this weekend.
Crawfish boils are an Easter tradition for many local families, with Good Friday and Easter Sunday typically accounting for one-third of April crawfish sales.
Sam Irwin, a spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry, says an estimated 3 million pounds of Louisiana crawfish will be consumed this weekend.
LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist Mark Shirley said this season has been a tough one for crawfish farmers, due to weather and economic factors.
Dry conditions and high fuel prices in the fall delayed the flooding of crawfish ponds, and hurricanes Gustav and Ike inundated some coastal farms with saltwater.
