Aunt Dotty Oysters from Saquish, MA

$125.00

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Quantity: 50 Count

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Farmer:
Skip Bennett

Size: ~2.5"

Although they’re grown only a 20-minute boat ride away from the ICO’s and Row 34’s, Aunt Dottys have a vastly different flavor! Intensely salty up front with a nori, seaweed-like brine, they mellow into a rich, nutty sweetness, almost like a bitter walnut. Dotties have petite cups but are bursting with dense meats giving you a super toothsome bite.

About Aunt Dotty Oysters

Harvest location: Saquish Neck, MA

How they’re grown: Aunt Dottys spend their 3-year grow out in trays on the tidal flats at Saquish Neck. The farm has an extremely unique location, but the best part is that it can be easily accessed year-round, unlike some of its other Duxbury Bay neighbors. Due to long tides at the mouth of the bay, the trays will always be exposed from the water twice a day for 3-4 hours, so the crew can harvest all year-round. A bonus? The crew can also reach the farm via truck from Saquish beach.

Every December, the farm crew removes the oysters from the water to avoid freezing cold temps and exposure and stores them in relative comfort in burlap bags in the cellar of a little cottage that Skip owns just feet from the flats. In April, the oysters make the short commute back to the water to pick up growing right where they left off.


Why they’re unique: 
The land and marshes that host the farm have been in the Bennett family for generations. Legend has it that the deed once had to be translated from Old English! Skip plans to diversify the farm in the future, with clams and scallops, but for now, the Aunt Dottys are the inaugural offering and a sign of great things to come!

Story: 
So who is the person behind the name? Skip’s aunt, Dotty, was the original resident of the Bennett family cottage out at Saquish. In the 1940s, Dotty and her husband lived entirely off the grid with no running water or electricity...and their 6 children. Dotty’s husband was a lobsterman, and after he passed, Dotty kept the family business going on her own. Dotty was a hearty, tenacious, special woman and her spirit lives on through the oyster that now bears her name.

⚠ Prop 65 Warning

Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Oyster FAQ

How long do my oysters keep?

Your oysters keep in the refrigerator for 5-7 days!  You can order a day or two early to make sure you have them in time for your gathering.  They are totally fine hangin’ out in the cool air.  

How do I store these bad boys?

When you receive your package, pull them out of the box (these guys need a little fresh air!). Grab a mixing bowl and throw the mesh bag in the bowl so that the oysters don’t leak all over your refrigerator. Grab a damp cloth and throw the cloth over the bowl.  You are good to go for the next 5-7 days. Doesn’t hurt to dampen the cloth each day to keep them moist and chilled.

Should I keep them on ice?

Only put the oysters on ice before service.  The oysters will actually die in the melted fresh water so do not store the oysters on ice.  They will not like this.

How are they shipped?

We ship using FedEx Overnight service. You will receive tracking info after the label has been printed the day before your oysters are set to arrive.  We do not require a signature – Fedex will leave your package at your doorstep.

Is your packaging recyclable?

Short answer: YES!

Our ClimaCell thermal liners are made of 90% FSC certified virgin kraft paper and corn starch, which allows you to recycle the insulated liner at home along with the cardboard box.⁠

Not only are the liners water repellant, they’re just as insulating as traditional styrofoam AND they can be recycled up to 5 times. Saving the planet has never been easier.⁠

Click here for more information on ClimaCell.