I met Mario on the festive streets of Amsterdam in 2015.  I introduced him to the maatjes haring and smoked paling.  He loved it and I gave him some to bring home. A few weeks later he place a sizable ordered.  Now look at him, big man on campus.  He is busy drumming up new business in San Francisco now through his vast network of food service clients, restaurants, bars and seafood markets.  Currently he is concentrating on Kings Day 2026 , the Word Cup starts June 11th and the new catch being available June 16th, 2026.  He has an extremely busy schedule and looks forward to working and expanding our brand at NorthSeaHerring.com 

In 2010 Marcel was the President of Dutch Club of Chicago.  He and the club ordered consistent amounts of product.  Then his grandmother became ill and forfeited his career to care for her.  He did not order as much going forward but every 4 months he would load up again.  Now we have teamed up to work together.  He maintains our operations in Florida.  He is undergoing efforts to expand our cold storage capacity  in the region so we can ship throughout the state to save customers on shipping.  So in essence every shipment is virtually overnight delivery.  Thank you - Marcel 

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Tracy, I remember the day we met January 1998. As fellow banking professionals, I was instantly drawn to your honesty and strong code of ethics. Fast forward to 2010, when I invited you to be my spokesperson at a Superbowl party, and you graciously said "Yes." You truly are a remarkable woman, and I am grateful for your presence in my life. God bless you!  When I hear "Whitney Houston" I think of you.

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I met Kelly in 2009 online talking trash during a Dolphins - Steelers game.  She is a Steeler true and blue.  I was newly divorced and she was a calm soul for me to shed my tears. Kelly could not believe that my fish was so versatile. She thought I had a great idea.  I mentioned I need to find some suppliers but I did not have the  money to travel to Brussels. Then one day Kelly calls and transfers $2,400 to my account.  She said, "I believe in YOU!"  Now go make us rich at the European Seafood Expo, thats when the volcano blew up in Iceland.  I did not met Kelly until 3 months later when my sample shipment arrived.  I introduced her to Doremus and Mike.

I met Lucas through Natalie the assistant to the General Consul at the Dutch Consulate in San Francisco in 2010 for Queens Day.  He was instrumental in helping me ´providing his restaurant as my storage storage facility in San Francisco.  He helped me set up, he brought utensils, serving pans, plates, cups, chopped onions, pickles-  Everything the Dutch require. Plus he found someone to help me in my booth who spoke fluent Dutch.  He was a 62 year old homeless guy named Jasper. I could not have made it without him.  Every year for 4 year he was waiting for me.  Lucas is a great guy.  Thank you Lucas for making me feel like family.

I met Bruce October 15th, 1978.  That is the day our mother brought him home.  I am so proud of the "Man" he has become.  Honest, hardworking  no non-sense type of guy.  Alpha Male - and I am extremely proud to be his brother.  We tranced around Amsterdam, Katwijk and Spakenburg  so he could meet all of our suppliers.  It is important in business you go meet the people you are buying your products from.   We cleared customs in Atlanta, drove to Madison, Alabama and dropped off some product to the Dutch Military units staioned there. Then we flew to Santa Monica, California for the very 1st Kings Day 2016 - we are still here!

I met Aunt Madrid in 1984 in Fairfield, California.  My parents separated in Los Angeles at 3 months pregnant.  I knew no one on my fathers side of the family until Aunt Mildred reached out to me.  I met my Father September 15th, 2000 thanks to her.  When he died in Chowchilla, CA 2004. She would not allow me to pay for his funeral. She provided me transportation, shelter every year I came to  San Francisco or Oakland for Queens Day.  Then we would splurge at Fisherman's Wharf - Pier 39. She dropped me at BART.  The Giants were in town as Barry Bonds was indicted.  He kicked ass. Pictured here, Dutch Consul General Bart van Bolhuis and Aunt Mildred.

Mrs. Barrett was my best customer.  She is now 88 years old. She always ordered a minimum of $2,500 every 90 days.  Then she would also serve a my cold storage facility in Texas and she would ship products out on my behalf.  When I would make and order typically I would travel to the Netherlands and once I returned and cleared customs. She was always my first delivery at the Little Dutch Girl in Spring, Texas outside of Houston.  Her mother and assistant would always say - "Here comes the Fish Man." Mrs. Barrett was my best client.  Thank you Mrs. Barrett I love you.   

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I met Doremus August 1989 at United Recovery Systems.  We were "Bill Collector". Over time our friendship grew closer, taking road trips to Miami, Cancun, Charleston, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chicago, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.  He is the reason I met my father for 1st time at 38 years old in Chowchilla, California.  As he and I both were going through a divorce at the same time.  I slept on his couch, and his home became the corporate headquarters in Houston of North Sea Herring housing 3 large deep-freezers in the garage.  He would ship out products all over the country and make deliveries for me all over Houston. When he remarried - he asked me to be his "Best Man".  I told him I did believe in marriage any longer, but I believed in his.  Love you Doremus & Lynette   

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I met Lynette through Doremus in 2009.  She slowly moved in to hasten my transition out.  But I would still come back from time to time and stay when she is in Louisiana.  I decided to exhibit at the 58th Louisiana Food Service Expo in New Orleans 2010.  My supplier Rick Bond shipped me this Dutch Haring Cart and he flew to New Orleans from Amsterdam to meet me.   at the expo bringing my private label 4 pack bags of maatjes haring.  Before he arrived I flew to Dallas from Little Rock to pick up my cart.  It cost me $400 to clear customs.  I rented a U-Haul truck and I went to pick up Doremus at his home in Houston.  I had absolutely no money left hoping we would make on one tank of gas.   Doremus got in the truck and I said this road-trip to New Orleans will be tight, but we ran out of gas 100 miles away.  Lynette was about an hour away and she brought me $85 and 5 gallons of gas.  You can see her in background working on the books.  I love you Lynette.  Thank you for putting up with me.

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GOD willing my mother will be 86 on May 10th, 2026.  All I can say is my mother is the foundation of my life teaching me the basics.  She taught me.  Do not steal anything from anyone.  An honest days work is worth an honest days pay.  If you want something you have to work for it.  But if really want something more than anything else.  Prove it!  Her home served as corporate head-quarters. She would take me to the airport and always slip $200 - $300 in my hand and say.  "Baby I wish I could do more.  I hope this helps." Then one time she went to Western Union and  sent me $2500. She almost had a heart attack when I told her it went to the wrong location.  Oh Lord, Jesus NO!  I returned home is waiting at the airport.  She loves haring, smoked mackerel and eel.  While I was away she bought 2 more  large deep-freezers because the other 3 were already full.  My mother inherited her fathers grocery store.  I know the value of how a woman worries about feeding her children when no man is present in the home.  North Sea Herring was built for women to own and operate. I have no Son.  I LOVE YOU MOMA! Happy Birthday & Mothers Day.​​​​​​​

I met Mike at United Recovery Systems as well.  Mike and I became close friends and we would drink a couple beers during breaktime, lunch and happy hour at Yucatan Liquor Stand and we go by Two Pesos and grab some Fajitas and Margaritas   When I got my 1st apartment he took to meet his parents and his mother was kicking his furniture out.  He gave me his couch and love seat.  I slept on that couch until I bought a water bed for $120. He also introduced to a woman I married for 16 years. While crossing the Baltic Sea  on the good ship Gabriella I shared with him the fight I had with her before the trip I was taking.  When I told Mike my 9 county 18 day travel plans to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia,  Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.  He said, "Thats the trip of a lifetime."  He quickly got his passport.  Staggering on the streets of Amsterdam at 5.30 am I introduced Mike to Maatjes Haring.  He loved it, and that is when I had the idea of importing maatjes haring into the United States because I did not want to leave it behind.  When my 1st shipment arrived Mike drove me to the airport to clear  customs. 

I met David in Colombia in 2009.  Instantly I knew we had almost nothing in common.  He does not smoke or drink but a has an acute mind for math.  He is stingy and watches my dimes like its his dollars.  Both of us expressed wanting to reach out live in various lives around world.  I got a call from a Russian Seafood company in Brooklyn and they wanted to meet with me.  So I shipped a metric ton of products to them and David picked up at LaGuardia and shuttled me to Brooklyn.  I pick up the products I needed for myself and stuffed David's car full of maatjes haring, smoked mackerel and smoked eel. He dropped me off and I caught the next flight from JFK to LA for 2015 Queens Day Celebration.  A month later we were back in Colombia.  Then next we repeated the same routine with the Russians and David for the Kings Day Celebration in Santa Monica.  A month later we were both back in Colombia.  

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I was traveling from a food expo in New Orleans when a friend Ryan Whitaker called me and told me about Norwegian client that wanted to meet with me.  I mentioned I was trying to go to Los Angeles but the tickets were over $600 and I would miss the next expo.  He said call Southwest they got $50 flights.  I told him I don't even have $50 either.  He said hang up and call them now.  I called Southwest Airlines and Teresa Douglas and said "How may I help you?"  I introduced myself and asked if the $50 tickets were still available?  She said no, it is $672 one way!  I said, I am completely broke.  I am trying to get to California in 3 days.  Please write down my name, # and go to NorthSeaHerring.com.  I will marry a woman in your break room for a companion pass.  Make sure you show it to all your coworkers and call me back at 10.00 am tomorrow morning.  She started laughing, and said, "You really want to go to Los Angeles?  I said yes indeed, our marriage will last forever because I can always find somewhere to go for a few days without you.  She started laughing again and ok I understand.  I call you back tomorrow at 10 am and tell you what the ladies said.  I said "thank you very much and I hope to hear from you."  10.00 am the phone rang and Teresa professionally spoke to said to me that she followed my instructions and to my surprise most attractive women who viewed you favorably were all married, but I am not...  GOD has been good to me and going sow my seed into your garden.  Do not worry about California, I will get you out there and whenever you decide to leave call me a day before and I will take care of it...  My voice cracked and I said Teresa you are my Angel and I told her about my buddy Ryan Whitaker who told me at that very moment you answered the phone. Teresa, I will always be forever in your debt.

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I met John in Costa Rica in 2007 at a Super-Bowl party at the Del Rey in San Jose.  Then the next year we met again in Chicago.  He had 7 of his buddies and we all flew back down to San Jose on Continental - now United.

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Each time I came to Chicago John put me up for 4 or 5 days.  He picked up at the airport.  Took me to appointments our had one of his many lovely ladies and or girlfriend pick me up and drop me off wherever I need to go.  

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The National Restaurant Association have their annual Exposition at McCormick Place.  If you never attended the expo.  You should, it is open to the public as well.  

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I met golf legend Greg Norman introducing his new Wagu Steak  Company.

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John is a great guy and he invited me to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family because he knew I was newly divorced and had no family to call my own.  He reduced me to tears

Thanks for your friendship...  Helll of a guy! I trust John with my Life!!!

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I met Rick and Marcel at the European Seafood Expo in Brussels, Belgium in 2010.

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June and I met in Miami at the Americas Food and Beverage expo 2013.  She was an exhibitor showcasing her world famous "Caribbean Delectable HOT Sause." 

I met Harold January 4th, 1982 at Little Rock, Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

I met Rose at the airport in Little Rock, Arkansas.  She was stranded waiting for a friend and she 6 large bags.  I help her, the I suggested we go the Holiday Inn across the bridge and get something to eat while we wait on her friend.  I also explained I was waiting for my brother Bruce to arrive as well.  

I met Kanisha at a sports bar in Little Rock watching Razorback Football. She was truly calling the Hogs... I could not let this opportunity slip by because I just returned from Medellin, Colombia my logo embroidered on panties, bras, blue jeans, sportswear, and intimate wear.  She has the perfect body with fat ass.  

I met Joe in Cartagena, Colombia in 2018, Ironically David Kenan of New York and I were watching basketball a snacking on a couple hamburgers when Joseph walked up to the bar.

Two hours later we were on bar hoping tour taking him throughout the city.  We all became close friends and 3 months later he moved to Medillin. 

Now I am the Godfather to his 5 year old.  Imagine that!