Crawfish season is underway, but prices in Houston are higher than in Louisiana, leaving some seafood lovers wondering why the cost is so different.
HOUSTON — Crawfish season has arrived, but some Houstonians say the price per pound is harder to swallow than usual. The popular springtime staple is selling for noticeably more in Houston than it is just a few hours east in Louisiana.
KHOU 11’s Cheryl Mercedes looked into the price difference and what it means for crawfish lovers across the Houston area.
“Here we are, another weekend, and it’s crawfish season. I’m craving some mud bugs, but if you’re buying them in Houston and you grew up on Louisiana prices like I did, you might be looking at other dinner options right about now,” she explained.
According to the Crawfish app, which helps people find live and boiled crawfish nearby, the average price for boiled crawfish in Houston right now is about $10 to $12 per pound.
But prices are lower in Louisiana.
“The average price for boiled crawfish in Houston right now is about 10 to $12 a pound, but if you head east to New Orleans, you can still find some spots serving boiled crawfish closer to about $8.99 a pound, and at Louisiana grocery stores, even lower, like 4 or $5 a pound,” she explained.
The difference largely comes down to where crawfish are produced.
“Now most crawfish are farmed in Louisiana, meaning Texas restaurants often pay extra for transportation costs to bring them here,” she said, “Yeah, I’ve heard the whole spiel.”
There may be some relief ahead for Houston diners, though.
Crawfish season typically peaks between March and May, which is when prices usually begin to drop.
“Hello, it’s March. So, if those Houston prices have you thinking twice about a boil or buying boiled crawfish, just wait a few weeks,” she said. “It could save you some serious money. I know I’m waiting on my trip home in a couple of weeks.”