Mussel Farming

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High quality mussels grow in the waters around Lopez Island because twice each day the rich waters of the Pacific Ocean ebb and flow with the tide.

Mussels feed on microscopic plants and animals that live in the lighted zone near the surface of the ocean.

The mussels grow on 20 ft long ropes suspended from floats so that they remain in this zone of abundance until harvest . Also, having no contact with the sands of the seafloor keeps them free of the grit and debris usually found in shellfish.

Immediately after harvest we tumble the mussels to remove the seaweed and barnacles (which occur naturally on almost any thing in the sea) from the mussels and quickly return them to the water to keep them alive and fresh. On delivery day the mussels are taken from the water and refrigerated in our delivery truck which usually takes a morning ferry to the mainland. Thus we provide a premium quality product as fresh as possible outside of your coming to Lopez Island and eating them fresh on the farm.

For those who do not live in NW Washington we package the mussels in an insulated carton with a cold gelpak and ship using an overnight delivery service. Mussels in the water today can be on your plate tomorrow.

Mussels will keep for several days in your refrigerator at around ?? degrees F. but fresh is always best.

Prices/ordering:

Recipes:

More info: varieties, life cycle, farm details, list of restaurants and grocers selling our mussels

Revised Sunday March 21, 1999

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