August 5, 2024Celebrate National Oyster Day With Virginia Seafood!
Today is National Oyster Day and the VMPB knows there’s no better place than Virginia to celebrate! Virginia’s love for oysters goes all the way back to the Native Americans that originally inhabited the area. Early colonists often marveled at the large mounds of oyster shells that the natives had formed and learned methods for harvesting oysters from the natives. In fact, some of these techniques taught to the original colonists are still in use today. The colonist at Jamestown were able to sustain themselves during the first few winters by the ample number of oysters in Virginia’s waters.
Not only are oysters historically significant they have a tremendous financial and cultural impact on the commonwealth. Virginia is the leader on the East Coast in oyster production and oysters are regularly among the top species landed yearly in Virginia. Culturally oysters have had just as a significant impact among citizens of Virginia because of their importance to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Oysters are tremendous filter feeders with one adult oyster being able to filter up to fifty gallons of water each day! This has led to oysters having a tremendous impact on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and the state of Virginia has been helping these efforts by promoting growth in the native and aquaculture oyster populations.
Oysters are not only good for our ecosystem they also have plenty of health benefits for consumers. Oysters are naturally high in essential vitamins and minerals like iron, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins A, E, and C, Calcium, and Selenium. They are also low in fat and a great source of protein. Oysters have more Vitamin D than a serving of farmed Salmon, double the protein of a large egg, and 20 times more zinc than a 6-ounce steak. Oysters also contain Vitamin B-12, the same amount as 13 cups of yogurt, Vitamin B-12 helps break down carbohydrates in the body. The high zinc content in oysters also helps support a healthy immune system.
Oysters were once thought to only be a treat during the months that contain the letter “R” due to preservation concerns, but due to modern advances in shipping, refrigeration, time and temperature regulations on harvesting, and with the growth of aquaculture farming, oysters are available fresh year-round. Oysters can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as, served raw on the half shell, stewed, breaded and fried, battered and frittered, roasted on the grill, or baked in the oven, with or without the accompaniment of topping such as bacon, cheese, and onions. There are a multitude of delicious ways to prepare oysters and most of these preparation methods pair well with traditional oyster condiments such as cocktail sauce or horseradish. No matter how you like your oysters you can be certain Virginia is for Oyster Lovers! Support your local watermen, water women, and aquaculture growers by sourcing and eating Virginia Oysters.