Oysters are delicious, nutritious, and versatile. They are also very expensive.
If you want to enjoy them at their peak freshness, you should only eat them raw or cooked within 24 hours of being harvested.
Oysters are mollusks that filter water through their shells. They are found in both saltwater and freshwater environments.
The shellfish is eaten primarily in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.
Oysters are rich in nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, and omega 3 fatty acids. They are low in calories and cholesterol. They are also high in fiber, potassium, and copper.
History Of Oyster Farming
All over the United States, there are oyster farms. An oyster farm is a place where oysters are bred and raised, with the intention of harvesting their pearls, shells, and edible parts.
Oyster farming has been a process that was practiced by the ancient Romans in the 1st century, and it has remained a popular practice ever since.
There are several oyster farms in the Rhode Island area, partly because it is the best location for it. Rhode Island is an island east of New York, and connects to Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Rhode Island provides a lot of seafood to these areas, hence why there is a good cluster of oyster farms in this area.
Each oyster farm in the Rhode Island area is part of the Rhode Island Oyster Trail, which is a specialist guide to all of the oyster farms, as well as the places that serve these oysters.
The aim of this is to support the heritage and economy of oyster farming. Each oyster farm has different types of oysters due to how different the bodies of water are in each area.
Behan Family Farm
Behan Family Farm is an oyster farm situated in the Charlestown area of Washington County in Rhode Island.
Behan Family Oyster Farm has an oyster variety named Ninigret Nectars . It is home to this variety of oyster, and they have been farming these oysters since 2000.
They are located in Charlestown, and they have remained a solid favorite oyster farm in the area. Everything that they sell to restaurants and as a company is 100% sustainable and ethical.
Behan Family Farm gives you the option to visit an eight acre oyster farm in person, where you receive a guided tour and a dinner.
You get a guided tour of Ninigret Salt Pond on a pontoon boat, where you can see where your oysters are from. Then, you dine near the lake, alongside oysters and sparkling wine.
They are located at 64 Meadow Ln, Charlestown, Washington County 02813. This is on the cusp between Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The nearest airport is T.F Green Airport, to which there are several places available to stay in the Charlestown area of Rhode Island.
Matunuck Oyster Farm
Matunuck Oyster Bar is an oyster farm and bar that sells some excellent quality oysters as well as a large variety of shellfish. They are located in South Kingstown.
Perry Raso began digging littlenecks when he was 12 years old, and he was raised finding and harvesting shellfish and fish.
He became an established oyster farmer, and then he opened the oyster bar.
The oyster farm was established in 2002, and he turned it into an amazing aquaculture farm on Potter Pond in South Kingstown.
Matunuck Oyster Farm ships their special oysters, lobsters, mussels, scallops, and clams anywhere in the state, as well as New England.
They offer indoor and outdoor dining in their Potter Road pond location, with amazing views of the sunset and water.
They also offer an oyster farm tour, where you can learn about aquaculture and fisheries on a local scale, but also an international level.
These tours begin with a discussion about the local aquaculture, and then you are encouraged to visit the shellfish farm in Potter Pond.
This is a unique experience in Rhode Island, and it is something you don’t want to miss out on if you love oysters.
They provide a unique experience where you can see the types of shellfish and their many stages of growth.
This tour lasts around an hour, and there is also a water tour that can be held on land. The oyster farm and bar is located at 629 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, RI 02979.
There are a great number of places to stay in this area, with the nearest airport being around 35 miles away. The nearest airport is T.F Green International Airport.
West Passage Oyster Company
West Passage Oyster Company is an oyster company in North Kingstown, and their head farmer is Graham Watson.
Graham Watson worked in San Francisco as an oyster farmer, but moved back to Rhode Island to start his own company.
He has a three acre oyster farming lease in North Kingstown, on the Narragansett Bay Area.
This area has strong tides, and these strong tides give the oysters in this area a saltier, oceanic brine.
There is a unique mineral makeup in this area, and these oysters are known to have a umami flavor, with buttery undertones.
West Passage Oyster Company has the intention to grow oysters ethically, and real quality shellfish. They aim to protect the ecosystem and protect the health of the ocean and environment.
Their oysters are surface grown, so they have a lot of movement action. This means that they are extremely rich in nutrients, and they are large and buttery.
Their round shells make them more recognisable than other oysters in this area.
The oyster farm is located in the John Chafee Nature preserve in the West Passage area of Narragansett Bay, and the ecosystem is shared with crabs and beautiful juniper trees.
It is a beautiful area, and the perfect place for an oyster farm tour. They offer a 90 minute tour in a huge rustic working boat.
You will learn about the history of aquaculture, as well as about how to keep the oceans sustainable. You will also see the harvesting process, as well as a shucking demonstration.
But, the best part of this tour is that you can eat the oysters straight from the ocean!
This oyster farm is located in the Narragansett Bay Area, and the nearest airport is also T.F Green International Airport.
This takes about 40 minutes to get there, and there are lots of places to stay in the Kingstown area.
Quonnie Siren Oyster Co.
The Quonnie Siren Oyster Co is located in the Quonochontaug area of Rhode Island, and they serve oysters fresh from their farm to your plate.
Quonochontaug is an area on the cusp of Connecticut, and it is difficult to grow oysters in this area. The water in this area is a pond, and the quality is top notch.
These oysters that are grown here have a sharp, salty flavor to them, as well as an earthy flavor afterwards.
They have a distinctive umami flavor, and grow on the bottom of sand, gravel, and boulders.
It is notoriously difficult to harvest these oysters, and they have such a unique flavor due to their conditions.
This oyster farm is owned by Jennifer Scappatura, who began her life in the marketing world. She loves the sea, and she wanted to teach her children how to be better stewards of the sea.
Jennifer’s mission is to protect the ecosystem in this area, and prevent overdevelopment in this area.
She began seeing dead oysters, so she sought to protect the marine ecosystem in order to gain a better future for everyone.
With the help of her family and friends, Jennifer founded Quonnie Siren Oyster Co, aiming to protect and honor the ocean life in this area.
You can buy their oysters straight from the farm, as well as from local restaurants, bars, and markets.
However, Quonnie Siren Oyster Co are known for their amazing kayak tours on their two acre pond.
With this experience, you can learn about how Jennifer harvests her oysters, how to shuck them, and how to eat them. With this experience, you can also learn about how to protect aquatic life.
Quonochontaug is a small area, and there are places to stay in the area, but you may be better off finding a place to stay in the Westerly Area.
There is also an international airport in Westerly, but otherwise there is the T.F Green International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Oyster Farms Are There In Rhode Island?
In the late 1980s, there were only six oyster farms in Rhode Island. Now, there are eighty-four oyster farms in Rhode Island!
What Country Farms The Most Oysters?
China is one of the leading countries for oyster farming, with over 80% of the world’s oysters coming from there. Overall, there are 5.1 million tonnes of cultured oysters produced globally.
Can You Cook Oysters?
Most of the time, oysters are eaten raw, in one slurping motion! They are best eaten raw because you get the full profile of their flavor, as well as their texture.
You can also eat them straight from the oyster farm. You can cook oysters, and you should cook them on high heat for four to five minutes.
Final Thoughts
There are so many different types of oysters out there, and each type has its own distinct taste. Some people prefer eating oysters raw, while others like to cook them.
If you want to try some delicious oysters, then you should definitely visit Rhode Island.
There are many places in Rhode Island where oysters are grown, and each area produces a different tasting oyster.
Visit areas such as Quonochontaug, Narragansett, and Matunuck Bay for some of the best oysters in the state.
