Cortes Island Oyster

Cortes Island oysters are cultivated at the northern end of the Strait of Georgia, one of British Columbia’s most northerly oyster growing locations. To get to major distribution points they must travel by ferry to Vancouver Island, down the island by truck, then by ferry again to the mainland. They start out as hatchery produced seed in trays suspended from the surface, but are later transferred directly onto the beach for conditioning. They finish their grow out there in order to develop a deeper cup and thicker shell, aided by the nutrient rich Pacific Ocean waters flowing over them. They are salty, sweet, and have a fruity aftertaste.