Oyster edu

A salute to oysters

A Few Facts You May Want to Know

• Oysters are nutritious! Source of zinc (good for the immune system), vitamin B12, vitamin D, copper, iron, and monounsaturated fat – the healthy fat like in olive oil.

• Oysters thrive in America’s waters, and because oysters are filter feeders, they capture the flavor of the area they are grown. Oyster lovers call this the merroir.   

• Have you heard that you shouldn’t eat oysters in months that don’t have an “R”? Because of improvements by professional oyster farmers – such as the use of proper refrigeration and harvesting techniques – oysters can be enjoyed fresh, year-round.   

• Farm-raised oysters are good for the environment and sustainable, often better tasting or at least more consistent than wild-caught. It takes 18 to 24 months for oysters to become adults or grow to market size. Today, 95% of oysters sold in restaurants are farm-raised.

• One of the greenest foods, oysters are a fantastic environmentally-friendly protein choice.

• At The Jones Oyster Co., we do our part to cultivate and restore oyster beds by recycling our used shells. Recycling the shells can help preserve and enhance the state’s coastal marine habitats. We currently make 2-3 trips to our local recycling center weekly, recycling about 10-12,000 shells per week!  (Chef Rodney had some help with a recent delivery!)