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Village Bay Oysters

We are proud to announce the addition Village Bay oysters (Crassostrea virginica) to our stable.  Village Bay oysters are sourced through the town of Richibucto (N 46.65/W 64.72), New Brunswick, which is located on the Acadian Peninsula.  More specifically, the Village Bays are a product of Bedec Bay, a tidal inlet that is fed by the phytoplankton rich waters of the Northumberland Strait and The Gulf of St. Lawrence.  The majority of the Village Bay oyster’s four to six year grow-out is spent in a top water suspension culture comprised of a series of nets suspended in positively buoyed cages. The tidal wash provides the oysters with a ceaseless supply of nutrients, while keeping the oysters more or less constantly in motion.  So why is this important?  I’m glad you asked!  The gentle abrasion caused by the oysters chaffing against each other and the bag/cage helps to keep new lateral growth to a minimum, while facilitating greater cup definition.  Once the Village Bays have reached desired market size, they are transferred to tables which are moored to the bottom of the bay for three weeks of finishing.  At the end of this period, the Village Bays are hand harvested and each bivalve is meticulously scrubbed and cleaned, thereby effectively eliminating any bio-fouling from the shells.  This would be an excellent time to point out that the methods of grow-out and harvest associated with this fishery and the Village Bay oysters are inherently ecologically sound and environmentally sustainable.  There is a lot of confusion regarding what is and what isn’t environmentally sustainable these days…I suggest you call us for further clarification. After harvest, the Village Bays are carefully hand packed (cup-side-down) in wooden boxes, and immediately shipped on a J.P.’s Shellfish refrigerated truck to our central distribution facility in Eliot, Maine, and then on to you.  Now then…Let’s get down to brass tacks about the physical make-up of the Village Bays.  These oysters are consistently better looking than Tom Brady’s string of girlfriends.  When shucked, the meats of the Village Bays billow with a touch of gossamer, while retaining a pleasantly firm texture.  As if this wasn’t enough, you’ll find that the deep-cupped bottom valve holds a terrific amount of liquor, which complements the meats perfectly with the unmistakable crisp brininess that is quite unique to oysters of the North Atlantic.  Overall, the Village Bays possess a medium salinity, which yields to a bright, clean finish.  Still not convinced?  The Village Bays are available on a year-round basis, and boast a shelf life that is measured in weeks rather than days.  Huh?  That’s right, and in all fairness, this is another attribute of the North Atlantic oyster varieties, which sets them apart from their cousins from other regions.  This is especially true during the winter months when the North Atlantics are in a state of dormancy.  After the summer spawn, the North Atlantic oysters gorge themselves on phytoplankton, and convert this food source into simple sugars, which are stockpiled in preparation for the winter months when their metabolism is slowed to a crawl.  At any rate…Nuts and bolts…These oysters have better legs than that girl ZZ Top sings about!  The calico shells are relatively thin, but are surprisingly strong and chip resistant, and as such, I expect the Village Bays will quickly become a favorite of seasoned veteran raw-bar maestros and novices alike.  Now here comes the kicker…The Village Bays are all packed out in wooden boxes.  Everyone loves the wooden boxes.  Personally, I’ve never had one, but judging by the way that the masses go gaga over them, they must be delicious!  Seriously…The packing and presentation is excellent…Village Bays are packed out in wooden boxes and shipped with a protective cardboard outer.  Village Bay Cocktails (two and a half to three inches) are packed in 100 counts, and Premiums (three to three and a half inches), packed out in 80 counts. 

Please email info@jpshellfish.com or call 207-439-6018 for more information on this and or any other J.P.'s Shellfish product or service.