Congratulations to our newest OMG Level 1 Certified Oyster Ambassadors:
Blane Taylor from Austin, Texas, and maker of @st.blaneshotsauce
Kelly Wittchow from Charlotte, North Carolina
Amilia Forsberg, GM / Beverage Director at @chelseafarmsoysterbar in Olympia, Washington
Nick Evans, Head Chef Lecturer at The Seafood Restaurant @ricksteinrestaurants in Padstow, Cornwall, England
Check out their profiles on the website, as well as 100+ others who have decided to learn with OMG!
#oysterschool #oystermasterguild #oystereducators
What is "shuckability"? And does it have more to do with the oyster or the shucker?
Free Webinar (Registration Required)
Monday, March 30th @ 1:30-2:30 PM EDT
In this collaboration between the Oyster Master Guild and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), Dr. Bill Walton and Julie Qiu define the technical metrics of oyster "shuckability" and why these physical traits are essential to the product's value proposition.
A panel of professional North American shuckers—Patrick McMurray (Toronto), Gary McCready (Philadelphia), Lindsay Allday (New Orleans), and Lauren McCool (Seattle)—will share how specific shell traits of Atlantic and Pacific species dictate operational efficiency and the final customer experience, followed by a forum on how growers can optimize their oysters for different market segments.
To register for this webinar, visit https://oyster.academy/shuckability
OMG members can simply access the webinar directly through the Guild Studio.
#shuckers #oysters #oysterfarming
You deserve to know what you're getting when it comes to oysters and caviar! ❤️
OMG has teamed up with Bekah Angoff, Director of Procurement at Wulf's Fish, to offer a fun and informative Caviar & Fish Roe Appreciation Online Video Course. Sign-up and watch on your own time!
Learn about how caviar is produced, different types of caviar, how to properly serve and taste it, and what those labels "Royale," "Imperial," "Reserve," all *really* mean.
Enrolling in this class also unlocks access to purchase an exclusive industry-priced tasting kit of six caviars and fish roes! (Kit sold separately, cost varies based on shipping location.)
Learn more at https://oyster.academy/caviar
Plus download the free OMG x Wulf's Fish Caviar Tasting Wheel at https://oyster.academy/caviarwheel
And with that, the 2026 Oyster Educators Summit comes to an end. Now we’ll be thinking about oysters and their impact throughout the year ahead. 🦪
This January, ASC came together with growers, chefs and educators from around the world who share a critical perspective: oysters are not only delicious, magical and ocean-friendly, but they create real community. Between workshops, panels, tastings and an interactive night tide farm tour @taylorshellfish , participants from Australia to Alaska exchanged knowledge, stories, humor and heart across the oyster plate.
The growing importance of responsibly farmed oysters in North America has never been clearer. We look forward to sharing more about these beautiful bivalves — from recipes to farm stories — in 2026.
A special thanks to the @oystermasterguild and our fellow sponsors, including @taylorshellfish - the first oyster farm to achieve ASC certification in the United States!
@jettyrockfoundation@bajashellfishfarms@alaskamariculturealliance@islandcreekoysters@holdfastoysterco@hamahamaoysters@chelseafarmsoysterbar@neptuneseafoodinc@fordsgin@popupoysterbar
📷: @sarahflotard & @taitumbrooks
#SeaGreenBeGreen #ASC_USA #SustainableSeafood #ChooseASCforChange #EatSeafoodAmerica
Night Tide Vibes. 🌙🌊
Around 40 of us (mostly out of towners) trekked out to @taylorshellfish Samish Bay in Bow, Washington, on the eve before the Oyster Educators Summit for a once-in-a-lifetime oyster adventure.
We ate like walruses. We shucked on the beach. We sipped martinis while wearing headlamps. Is this real life? Night tide harvests are indeed a working reality in the Pacific Northwest, but this outing was certainly meant to be more fun & celebratory!
Many thanks to the entire Taylor Shellfish crew for hosting us, @fordsgin for the special beverages, @yarravalleycaviar.usa for the delicious pearls, and @asc.usa for the support & sustainability moment.
📸: @sarahflotard
Congratulations to our newest OMG Level 1 Certified Oyster Ambassadors:
Kaleigh Branson from Indianapolis, Indiana (first in the state!)
Vincent Galland from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Frank An of Great Ocean Seafood in Rochester, New York @great.sfd
Addison Mitchell @studentofumami in Turin, Italy 🇮🇹 (first in the country!)
Check out their profiles on the website, as well as 100+ others who have decided to make their profiles public!
Jetty Rock Foundation and @OysterMasterGuild are excited to announce the 2026 OMG Scholarship Program recipients! 🦪✨
For the third consecutive year, JRF is proud to support students dedicated to advancing their knowledge and becoming Certified Oyster Ambassadors. We formally announced our eight recipients this past Wednesday (2/21) at the 2026 OMG Educators Summit in Seattle, WA.
We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort into our community of oyster and aquaculture enthusiasts!
Congratulations to our 2026 Recipients:
Matthew Jenkins- @marinerspointoysters
Amy Belaire - @bigtreeoysters
Laura Summerton - @she.shucks.brighton
Spencer Clanin - @oysterholler
Leila Avery - @leila.shucks
Jordan Hawkswell - @jhawkz
Suzanne Rourke - @hatchetcoveoysters
Molly Dischner - @medischner@alaskamariculturealliance
Tomorrow at the Oyster Educators Summit, we officially announce the 2026 OMG x Jetty Rock Foundation Scholars.
The selection process was rigorous; this year’s applicant pool was exceptionally competitive, representing a diverse cross-section of the industry’s emerging leaders and advocates.
Selected Scholars will enter a dedicated study group designed for high-level peer exchange, with full access to the Level 1 Oyster Appreciation Fundamentals online course, Level 1 certification exam, and a one-year Oyster Master Guild membership.
We look forward to introducing the cohort and integrating their perspectives into the OMG community.
Rounding off the Oyster Educators Summit workshop options is Julie Qiu's @inahalfshellist Oyster Sensory Skills & Merroir Literacy session.
Participants will learn about basic oyster flavor science, why good shucking matters, what drives "merroir," and actually tasting the differences in a flight showcasing @holdfastoysterco and @islandcreekoysters .
Registration has closed and we are looking forward to seeing everyone in Seattle next week!
We cannot wait to hear from Margo Reveil of @jakolofoysters , who will present about Alaskan oyster cultivation at the upcoming Oyster Educators Summit next week in Seattle, WA.
Margo runs Jakolof Bay Oyster Co, a family farm in Homer, Alaska that she operates with her husband and son. Since 2012, they've cultivated premium oysters in pristine Jakolof Bay waters, just 7 miles south of Homer across Kachemak Bay. This boutique operation exemplifies sustainable aquaculture where family stewardship produces exceptional culinary treasures from Alaska's untamed coastline.
Today is the final day to register!
https://oyster.academy/summit
