California

The birthplace of the American canned-tuna industry. San Diego built the country's tuna fleet in the early 20th century, and the two brands that still define American tuna were both founded in California: Chicken of the Sea in 1914 and StarKist in 1917. Though much of the big-brand canning has since moved offshore, California remains the home base of the modern American pack, including pole-and-line producers such as American Tuna out of San Diego, alongside Genova and Natural Catch. Albacore and yellowfin tuna are the defining catch.