Oysters aquaculture, or the breeding, harvesting and selling of oysters, can be a profitable business venture because people can harvest oysters all year long. Most of the oysters sold in the United States are Atlantic oysters or Pacific oysters. A very small percentage of oysters come from overseas.

Each type of oyster has its own distinct flavor. Certain recipes will use a specific type of oyster. Because of this, it is important that you stock a wide variety of oysters so you can meet the needs of any customer. Consider these suggestions when you buy oysters for your business:

1. Appeal to customers who want oysters with a robust flavor.

2. Accommodate customers who need mild flavored oysters.

3. Make adding oysters to recipes easy for your customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Offer Atlantic shelled oysters

Atlantic, or Eastern, shelled oysters have a robust flavor. These oysters are thick shelled and considered ideal to serve on the half shell. The Bluepoint, Chesapeake, Malpeque, Cape Cod, Wellfleet, Chincoteague, Indian River, Kent Island and Apalachicola oysters are all Atlantic oysters. Because each type tastes different, offering a variety for your customers is essential.

I recommend: Tar Bay Seafood sells Atlantic bay oysters. Wholesale apply to orders over 100 oysters. With this company, you have fresh oysters delivered to your door. Southern Connection Seafood sells Maryland oysters by the dozen or in multiples of 100. This company offers special discounts on large orders. It offers fresh oysters shipped to an airport that you specify.

Sell Pacific shelled oysters

Pacific, or Western, oysters have a mild flavor. These are the most common oysters used to prepare Oysters Rockefeller. There are many different types of Pacific oysters. Each has a distinct taste and slightly different shell shape. Keep a variety of Pacific oysters on hand to please a customer who is looking for a mild flavored oyster.

I recommend: Oyster Holdings offers fresh oyster delivery right to your door or to an airport you specify. They harvest the oysters on the day they ship to you. This company offers four different sizes of oysters, which are sold by the dozen. Marx Foods has a wide variety of pacific oysters. Information is available about all of the oysters they sell. This company also offers a sampler of the oysters online so you can decide which ones you prefer.

Stock shucked oysters

Shucked oysters, or oysters with the shell removed, are an easy way to add oysters to most seafood dishes, including seafood gumbo. Most shucked oysters are in pint or gallon containers. Consider buying shucked oysters in gallon containers and selling them individually so your customers can buy as few or as many as they need.

I recommend: Linton's Seafood offers shucked oyster by the pint or gallon. This company makes buying oysters online easy with a simplified, secure checkout process. Maryland Blue Crab Express sells shucked oysters by the pint or gallon. It offers two grades of oysters, select and standard, to make it easy for you to find the best oysters for your customer's needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider selling oyster knives for customers who purchase shelled oysters.