August 19, 2014Governor Seeks ‘Oyster Capital’ Designation
August 19, 2014
Forget Maryland’s crabs, Gov. Terry McAuliffe told a crowd of more than 100 people outside of the Executive Mansion on Tuesday morning. “By the time I’m done as governor, it’s going to be all about Virginia oysters.”
The governor and first lady Dorothy McAuliffe made the rounds to tables flush with oysters harvested from Virginia’s seven oyster regions and wines from state vineyards. The McAuliffes posed for pictures while they sipped wine and sampled the wares. The mid-morning celebration commenced with an announcement of the state’s commitment to strengthening its reputation as the “oyster capital of the East Coast,” as the governor put it. McAuliffe announced the creation of the Virginia Oyster Trail, an effort to direct tourists to oyster purveyors, raw bars and restaurants throughout the commonwealth. He also declared November to be Virginia Oyster Month. The plan is promote Virginia’s oysters in concert with other local products, like wine, to increase tourism. Charlie Burrows, business development manager for Ingleside Vineyards in Oak Grove on Virginia’s Northern Neck, says coupling wine and oysters will benefit both industries. “Nothing goes better with oysters than wine,” Burrows says. “Individually, they’re both doing well [in Virginia], but pairing them together will help them grow exponentially.”