Live scallops are, well, lively and slightly open shells are completely normal! Store in the refrigerator under a cool, damp towel in a closed lid container. Best enjoyed within a few days of delivery.
Location: Nantucket, MA
Harvester: Simon Edwardes
How They Taste: Smaller than a sea scallop but slightly more robust than your typical bay scallop, these babies pack a sweet punch in a small package. They've got a perfect texture that is meant to be eaten raw straight from the shell (although a little caviar wouldn't hurt either].
How They're Grown: Nantucket, known for its long, rich history with its economy closely tied to the ocean, has one of the last commercial fisheries for bay scallops. Nantucket bay scallops are a propagated wild fishery, started from hatchery seed from the town's shellfish biologist, Tara Riley [an alumni of the Island Creek Zanzibar hatchery program!] at Brant Point Shellfish Hatchery. Between 100 and 200 million bay scallop larvae are seeded into Nantucket Harbor in the spring and are ready to harvest in early November by oyster farmer Simon Edwardes who is a staple of the Nantucket aquaculture ecosystem.
Why They're Unique: Wild bay scallops have been an economic staple in Nantucket for 150 years, replacing the whaling industry after it shifted to New Bedford. Fortunately, due to the island's location—30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts—they have more control over water quality and are not affected by runoff from mainland communities and much like oysters, bay scallops are a natural water filter that help keep the bay's water clean. The bay scallop season only runs from November 1st through the end of March, so grab 'em while you can!
Story: Simon is an absolute smart-ass and loves every minute of giving someone a hard time! He was born in South Africa, and after getting a masters in aquaculture in Scotland, he spent 14 years in Costa Rica, where he raised tropical fish for shipment into to the U.S. In his free time--which is something people with three kids rarely have--he makes the most of the windy ACK conditions on his surfboard.
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