HARVESTING & PROCESSING

Over 14,000 acres of State Certified Pacific Coast Tidelands from Washington to California.

Two Farming Methods
On Bottom FarmingOn-Bottom Farming

On Bottom

With the On Bottom method of farming, cultch (recycled oyster shells) with spat (oyster larvae which has permanently attached itself to cultch) is spread across the tidelands. Oysters planted using the On Bottom method generally take about 2-3 years to reach harvestable size.
Off Bottom or Long-Line FarmingOff Bottom or Long-Line FarmingOff Bottom or Long-Line FarmingOff Bottom or Long-Line Farming

Off Bottom – Long Line

With the Off Bottom farming method, shells with spat attached, are woven into rope which is suspended with plastic pipes. This method allows for good water flow which in turn helps the oysters to grow to harvestable size in about 2 years.
Harvesting
Our fleet of jet-driven boatsOur fleet of jet-driven boatsOur fleet of jet-driven boats

Our fleet of jet-driven boats allow us to harvest in as little as 3 feet of water. We can conduct our farming and harvesting activities for a longer period of time without being dependent on the tide.
Processing
Oysters ready to be transported to the plantOysters ready to be transported to the plantOur plant in South Bend, WA

Oysters are unloaded from the harvest vessels onto a conveyer system which takes them into the processing plant to get shucked or processed for live in-shell sale. Our plant is a Level 1 (highest rating) HACCP processing facility located in South Bend, WA. We also have a Level 3 (highest level available) Safe Quality Food (SQF) 2000 Certification which allows us to assure our customers that our shellfish has been produced, processed, prepared and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain.

SQF Seal

Click on the following links for more information on
SQF 2000 Certification.

SQF Information
SQF Certificate of Registration
Oyster shuckers working at the plantOyster shuckers working at the plantOyster shuckers working at the plantOyster shuckers working at the plant

We employ up to 115 oyster shuckers per shift depending on the season. An oyster shucker can shuck up to 5,000 oysters per shift!