I’d carry oysters in my pocket, especially if they are Torkes from @haystackshellfishco previously farmed by @nevorshellfishfarm ! These are some briny babies from the saline waters of Netarts Bay, and they’ve been my favorite oysters to serve recently.
Pictured here from our @winterwaterspnw event at @seahorsey.bottleshop !
The Newport Seafood & Wine Festival returns this weekend, and Haystack Shellfish Co. will be there.
Join us at the Port of Newport (South Beach) where we will be serving in the festival’s Raw Bar Tent, featuring our Netarts Bay Tørkes oysters alongside a limited offering of our farm-grown Netarts Bay Kumamoto oysters. Quantities of Kumamotos are extremely limited and expected to sell out.
On Saturday and Sunday, we are also pleased to welcome a special guest: Chef Maylin of Nácar Oysters, who will be curating our oysters into thoughtfully composed delicacies that highlight the distinctive character and flavor of Oregon-grown oysters.
We invite you to experience fresh-shucked oysters, chef-crafted specialties, and one of the Oregon Coast’s most celebrated food and wine gatherings.
⸻
📍 Newport Seafood & Wine Festival
Port of Newport – South Beach
🗓 February 19–22
Friday 12–8 PM
Saturday 11 AM–7 PM
Sunday 10 AM–4 PM
(21+ event)
We look forward to seeing you on the coast.
You probably don’t know this…👀
Oysters boost your immune system!🦪🔥
It’s true - oysters are loaded with zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, and essential amino acids that help support a stronger immune response all winter long. 🙌
And yes… they taste as good as they are for you. 😋
Whether you love them raw, grilled, or topped with a squeeze of lemon, these oysters bring flavor and wellness to your plate. 😋🙌
Stop by to see us to get your oysters for the weekend!
📍Northwest Fresh Seafood | Newberg, Oregon
#oysters #pnwseafood #newbergoregon
What is aquaculture and how can it be regenerative? 👀
Aquaculture simply means farming aquatic species, but not all aquaculture is the same. 🌊 Many people associate it with pollution, chemicals, or antibiotics, and in some cases that concern is valid. But there is another side to aquaculture that is often overlooked. Some forms (especially in the US) are not just sustainable, they are regenerative and actively support healthy ocean ecosystems. 👏
Shellfish like oysters, mussels, and clams filter and clean the water as they grow. Seaweed absorbs excess nutrients and carbon, creates habitat for marine life, and grows without freshwater, fertilizer, or feed. 🦪 ❤️
In Oregon, these types of aquaculture work with nature and can help build more resilient coastal ecosystems while producing nutritious, climate friendly food. 🌊
A core mission of Winter Waters is helping people feel more connected to where their seafood comes from and more confident choosing local, regenerative options.
Pictured here: beautiful @haystackshellfishco oysters from one of our events last year. Come try these briny delicacies at the Seafaring Speakeasy in PDX 2/1. Learn more: winterwaterspnw.com.
#oysters #aquaculture #regenerativefarming
JUST RELEASED: Episode 3 of Tending the Tides! Listen from the link in our bio!
In our third podcast episode, hosts Kaitlyn Rich and Megan Foucht explore the history and significance of the Olympia oyster, the only native oyster on the West Coast. Through conversations with restoration practitioners, chefs, and others, Megan and Kaitlyn introduce you to the Olympia oyster, discuss current and past restoration efforts, and highlight why this little oyster is worth saving.
Guests:
- Steve Rumrill, retired leader of the Shellfish Program at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife;
- Chef Jack Strong, Executive Chef at the Allison Inn and Spa;
- Chef Maylin Chavez, owner of @nacaroysters ;
- Dick Vanderschaaf, Associate Conservation Director for the Oceans and Coast Program within @nature_oregon ;
- Jed Bowers, owner of @haystackshellfishco ; and
- Alanna Kieffer, @Shifting_Tides_NW and @OregonSeaweed .
Tending the Tides is available on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Cast, Podcast Addict, as well as Ecotrust's blog.
Photo of an Olympia oyster by Emilie Chen; illustrations by Tony Sterling.
#TendingtheTides #podcast #mariculture #oysters
Cold water months are oyster season at its best. ❄️ As temperatures drop, oysters slow their metabolism — which means firmer texture, cleaner flavor, and that perfect briny sweetness Oregon is known for. When the water’s cold, the oysters shine. These Torqs from @haystackshellfishco in Netarts Bay are maybe some of the prettiest we’ve seen!
In Oregon, oysters are farmed by hand in protected bays like Netarts, Yaquina, and Tillamook — where cold, nutrient-rich waters flow in from the Pacific. Farmers raise them on suspended lines or in tide-tumbled baskets, letting the ocean do the work to shape their shells and flavor. A local favorite are these Torqs grown by Haystack Shellfish in Netarts Bay, a perfect playground for oysters - where tidal flows keep them oxygenated and the bay shelters them from rough waves.
#winterwaterspnw #oregonoysters #netartsbay #netartsoregon
Most mornings you’ll find us out on the bay at first light, pulling oysters that ship within hours. Whenever tides and weather allow, same-day harvest and shipment to our customers is our standard — so they reach you tasting just as fresh as the morning they were pulled from Netarts Bay.
