Virginia Oysters

  • Fresh Oysters Today

    Virginia is becoming the oyster capital of the East Coast – with seven different oyster regions and status as the largest producer of fresh, farm-raised oysters in the country.

    oyster boat

    Oyster boat at Rappahannock River Oysters. Rappahannock River Oysters harvest Virginia-native oysters with a goal of offering the flavors of the Chesapeake Bay region all year round.

    oyster harvest

    RW Seafood workers harvest oysters in Cheriton. Recent growth of the aquaculture shellfish industry in Virginia has added significant value to the State’s seafood marketplace. Virginia’s watermen-farmers are providing additional quantities of quality shellfish to consumers.

    urbanna oyster fest

    The Urbanna Oyster Festival,  the Official Oyster Festival of the Commonwealth, celebrates food, arts & crafts, and the Chesapeake Bay Oyster with a Fireman's Parade, Oyster Shucking Contest and the Oyster Festival Queen.

    Morattico Waterfront Museum

    The Morattico Waterfront Museum seeks to preserve the cultural history of this waterman's village which thrived on steamboat commerce from the late 1880s through the early 1930s, making it a center of agriculture, fishing, crabbing, and oystering.

    Chincoteague oyster festival woman

    Each October the northern end of Virginia’s Eastern Shore celebrates the saltiest of oysters at the Chincoteague Oyster Festival. This is an all-you-can-eat affair of oysters prepared many different ways and much more!

    Oyster Maritime Museum

    The Oyster and Maritime Museum tells the story of Chincoteague Island History, the oyster trade, and seafood business which were the major industries on the island for more than 100 years.

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    Virginia is for Lovers is about love – pure and simple. For people who love great seafood in a beautiful setting, Virginia is gaining ground as a hot destination for oyster lovers. 

    The commonwealth – already known around the world as a top wine travel destination, is now becoming the oyster capital of the East Coast – with seven different oyster regions and status as the largest producer of fresh, farm-raised oysters in the country.

    The diverse flavor of Virginia oysters – from the saltiest in the waters of Chincoteague on Virginia’s Eastern Shore to the sweet taste of Rappahannock River oysters and the rebirth of Lynnhaven oysters in Virginia Beach – give visitors a lot to love about oyster travel in Virginia.

     

     

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