Fact Sheet: Aquaculture Oysters

Scientific Name

Crassostrea virginica

Market Forms

Live in shell, fresh shucked (in pints, quarts or gallons), frozen (breaded and unbreaded) and frozen half shell.

Marketing

History has proven that the salinity levels of Virginia waters (the mixture of fresh water from the Appalachian Mountain Range, mixing with the Atlantic Ocean) makes the taste of Virginia oysters superior to other states. Virginia's location also gives our oysters moderate winters and cool summers, which helps Virginia oysters and extends their growing season.

Size

Market size is approximately 3 inches for oysters in the shell. Shucked oysters are designated according to size ranging from the largest “counts” to smallest “standards.”
small . . . . . . . . . . over 500 meats/gallon
standard . . . . . . . 301 to 500 meats/gallon
select . . . . . . . . . 211 to 300 meats/gallon
extra select . . . . . 160 to 210 meats/gallon
count . . . . . . . . . under 160 meats/gallon

Taste/Texture

Plump, delicate, tender, slightly salty.

Seasonality

Available year round.

Nutritional Value

69 Calories (100 grams, 3.5 oz.) 7.1% Protein 2.5% Fat .44% Omega-3

Substitutability

Nothing else tastes quite like Crassostrea virginica, so named because biologists first identified it on Virginia's shores. In fact, in blind taste comparisons with its Pacific cousin, the Eastern oyster was voted best tasting by 85% of those polled.

Habitat

Oysters grow best in estuarine waters of moderate temperature and salinity with abundant plankton for food. This description best fits the Chesapeake Bay and its major tributaries which are responsible for high yields of this shellfish.

Harvesting

The harvesting of aquaculture grown oysters are from private grounds either from cages or private reefs. This provides a ready supply for market.