Fall Weather Brings Flavorful Harvest of Shellfish and Local Wines

State agriculture officials encourage citizens to sample Massachusetts-grown shellfish, as well as offerings from Massachusetts's 34 wineries

BOSTON—With bushels of oysters and other shellfish being harvested along the Massachusetts coast, the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) encourages Commonwealth residents to choose Massachusetts-grown shellfish at restaurants and fish markets, and to consider a Massachusetts variety when shopping for wine to pair with meals.

“The Commonwealth’s farmed-raised shellfish are great to enjoy year-round,” said DAR Commissioner Scott Soares. “But the cooler fall weather causes our farmed oysters and littlenecks to be even sweeter, a perfect pairing with award-winning wines from the Commonwealth’s 34 wineries.”

Farm raised shellfish are available at restaurants and fish markets throughout the state as well as three Massachusetts farmers’ markets: West Tisbury, Hyannis and Orleans. In addition, many Massachusetts wineries offer crisp white wines, a natural pairing for many shellfish, including oysters, Soares said.

For information and locations of wineries in Massachusetts see The Massachusetts Wine and Cheese Trails, produced by Massachusetts Grown and Fresher!, a DAR initiative, and the Massachusetts Farm Wineries Association. A list of wineries open to the public is available at www.MassWinery.com.

The cultivation of marine and freshwater fish and shellfish is a diverse segment of the Massachusetts agriculture industry. There are 300 aquaculture license holders in Massachusetts, growing shellfish on 952 acres of land in 26 towns. According to the 2008 Aquaculture Report from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), oysters, hard shell clams, soft shell clams, blue mussels, and bay scallops harvested in Massachusetts brought in a total of $6.1 million in 2007. Oysters brought in $3.8 million with more than 38,000 bushels harvested. A total of 29,688 bushels of hard shell clams, also known as quahogs, which include littlenecks, cherrystones, and chowders, were harvested for a total value of $1,977,848.

Facts about Massachusetts’ aquaculture industry:

Cultivation of aquatic species started as a practice by Native Americans and later by colonists on Cape Cod. Commercial cultivation techniques were developed in the 1970s.
The Massachusetts aquaculture industry produces aquatic species for food, education, ornamental, bait and sport fishing activities.
Six species of shellfish and 10 species of finfish are cultured in Massachusetts.
Shellfish feed on algae, which grow in nutrient rich coastal waters in the summer months, and help enhance water quality through filter feeding, which improves water clarity and nutrient load reduction.

Click here for information about the Massachusetts Aquaculture Industry

Click here for a list of Massachusetts’ 34 wineries

The DAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of local agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Development, Animal Health, Crop and Pest Services, and Technical Assistance – the DAR strives to support, regulate, and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, working to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production.