Marshallberg Farm Osetra Caviar from Smyrna, North Carolina

Acipenser Gueldenstaedtii

Marshallberg farm uses a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) which accounts for them being a highly sustainable facility for farmed fish. The farm produces fertilizers by recycling waste water with wood chips for a community-supported agriculture garden, and also promotes aquaponics in holding ponds for growing vegetables. They also use every single part of the fish, including the bladder! We really cannot say enough about the farm and how they are doing everything right.

These guys are by the book! With over 80% of Caviar being farmed internationally, they are looking to actively break the mold. Marshallberg farm's main goal is to domestically produce Osetra caviar in a truly sustainable way. As fish farmers by trade, the husband and wife team are using that knowledge to push the domestic caviar industry forward. Lianne and Brian's efforts have not gone unnoticed, their work on the farm has led to a "Best Choice" for sustainability by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch [seafoodwatch.org] award.
The duo consistently refers to their farming operation as a "Water Treatment Facility" rather than a fish farm. As scientists, they take great pride in not only producing an unbelievable product but doing it in a way that benefits the farmer, consumer, and most importantly the environment. Similarly to how we operate at ICO, they take pride in controlling their own narrative. Farming is all about innovation and what gets the duo out of bed every morning is the concept of creating the perfect caviar farming scenario. "We can always be better, and we will be."

It takes a minimum of 10 to 12 years in captivity for a female Osetra Sturgeon to reach sexual maturity and produce eggs. Farmers will use ultrasound technology to determine if the eggs [beads] are at peak ripeness for harvesting. Once harvested, the beads are closely examined and rated in accordance with three things: size of beads, firmness of beads and the color of the beads. They are minimally salted and left to age.

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.