Chebeague Island Oysters from Casco Bay, ME

Harvest location: Chebeague Island, ME

How they’re grown: The Chebeagues are grown in mesh bags and cages placed at the intertidal zone; an area with a more shallow sandy bottom and a long gradual runout into deeper water. The crew prides themselves on repurposing old equipment. Chebeague Island has been a storied ground for centuries thanks to its unique bathymetry (or, seabed features) which brings in a flow of nutrient-rich, colder-than-average water ideal for oyster farming, fishing, and sailing. The good stuff. The super cold water temps elongate the oysters' growing cycle, which takes 4-6 years [!!!] , making a complex flavor profile and super strong shell [think the strength of a slow-growing Red Wood tree, vs a fast growing balsa tree].

Why they’re unique: Location, baby! Chebeague Island is the largest island in Casco Bay NOT attached to the mainland via bridge. It's as cute as a fricken button, with only -300-400 year 'round residents, a blanket of evergreen forests and quintessential, rocky, rugged Maine beaches. Their farm is nestled in this beautiful landscape, and at the end of a long day farming, the crew loves to "cruise home on our beat up old pontoon boat, looking at the most beautiful surroundings in the world, muddy, tired and cold, with a huge grin.

Story: Imagine The Beatles... except on a quaint island off the coast Portland, ME, not Liverpool. And instead of a bunch of dudes with bowl cuts, it's a crew composed of an urban planner, a corporate suit, and a lobsterman-marine biologist-married couple. You get the picture. Now jump ahead to 2013 when Chebeague Island Oysters was founded. David and Bob started the farm as a demonstration project on behalf of their local community association. Their goal was to show young families on the tiny postage stamp of Chebeague Island that oyster farming could be a profitable and impactful business. In year two, a young couple asked to chat - he was a home grown lobsterman and she was an island local with degrees in marine biology and invasive species. By the end of the evening, they decided to turn the project into a full fledged band...er, business.

[And - 3 of the 4 owners have fallen in the bay while working - but we're not telling who... :) ]

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.