An Oyster Life (Blog) — Aquaculture

Myths vs. Facts Few creatures on earth are as steeped in myth and legend as the oyster. For centuries, this humble mollusk has been the subject of tall tales, folklore, and superstition. But what is the truth behind these oyster myths? Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular oyster myths and see if we can separate fact from fiction. Myth #1: Oysters are an aphrodisiac One of the most persistent myths about oysters is that they have special powers when it comes to love and lust. The history of oysters as an aphrodisiac stretches back to...

Everyone has an opinion about oysters. Whether you love eating them or not, it’s hard to deny their amazing impact on the areas where they’re grown. Unlike a lot of other animal agriculture, oysters actually help reduce emissions and the overall burden on ecosystems. This is due to the fact that they don’t produce methane during their digestive cycles.  Unfortunately, oyster reefs are declining globally. For example oysters in our area, the Chesapeake Bay used to be so large that they would occasionally sink ships. Now, they have receded to the point that many farms and conservation groups, including White...

The Chesapeake Bay is an amazing place and since our creation, we’ve made it our goal to work to help to build the bay and help support the ecosystem and region that gives us so much. Oyster farms like ours benefit the Chesapeake Bay in a number of ways. First, we’re able to create jobs and bring revenue to the region. Farmed oysters are also responsible for filtering micronutrients out of the bay, preventing hazardous algae blooms, and cleaning the area’s waters. Lastly, recycled oyster shells can be used to create artificial reefs which provide habitat for many other species....

The oyster and its pearl are a combination known around the world. However, many people don’t know exactly what causes an oyster to form a pearl. Oysters are not the only mollusk that can form pearls– clams and mussels do it as well, but much less frequently. The formation of pearls by oysters is a biological process, the oyster is actually protecting itself from a foreign substance. In order to understand how oysters make pearls, it’s important to first understand the basics of their anatomy. Oysters are bivalves, which means their shell is made of two parts, the valves. The...

East coast oysters. West coast oysters. Like Tupac and Biggie, the rivalry between the two has spanned the ages. The two varieties of oysters each sport their own merroir, shape, size, and mouth feels. Knowing the difference between the two can help you know what to expect when getting your slurp on. East Coast oysters like our White Stone Oysters are often smoother with larger cups and a briny, savory flavor. White Stone Oysters, for example, very sweet,  vegetal, and umami notes with a medium salinity. West Coast oysters tend to have a ruffled shell with a deeper cup, are...

The fabric of White Stone is sewn with the sinews of vibrant, meaningful relationships, that together, construct the functioning entity; the friends that run our hatcheries, our farmers, our truck drivers, our distributors, our chefs, our restaurant patrons, and beyond.  Each connection has a unique charge that makes up who we are, including the businesses whose visions run parallel.   Last month we hosted friends from a local White Stone, VA restaurant,  Adrift, and the conservation-minded, water-centric men's apparel brand, Fish Hippie. The day was filled with playful banter and meaningful discussion on the future of our waterways. We were joined by...

The flavor of an oyster is determined by several factors like region, water, and farming method. Knowing how these things affect an oyster’s flavor can help you detect the subtle nuances between oysters and become an oyster pro.  First, you have to learn an important term, merroir. Merroir is derived from the same concept as wine’s terroir. Basically, the flavor profile of a wine, like that of an oyster is derived from the factors that go into its growth. While wines may be affected by soil, sun, and microclimate, oysters are affected by water quality, algae, current and tide, and...