About Virginia Aquaculture Oysters

Virginia has a history of having the best tasting Oysters on the East Coast!

The Virginia Aquaculture Oyster industry is growing oysters with a variety of tastes that please all. The salty flavors of seaside oysters to the sweet/butter flavors of the bay and its tributaries oysters will please any palate. Virginia’s quality control and regulatory standards for water quality and processing plants are recognized among the most stringent in the nation. Virginia’s water and product are policed by a number of regulatory agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation, Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Additionally, Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Virginia Tech scientists and engineers work with processors to monitor and improve control procedures in shellfish plants throughout the state.