Findings of the 2014 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Crop Reporting Survey showed another banner year for shellfish aquaculture, with farmers selling $55.9 million in oysters and clams last year.
That represents an increase of 14 percent in total revenue for clam growers and 33 percent for oyster growers.
According to the survey, Virginia has been the nationwide leader in growing hard clams for years, but in 2014 the industry sold an all-time high of 243 million. Sales of 39.8 million cultured oysters made the commonwealth a leader in East Coast production as well.
“Our shellfish aquaculture industry continues to grow at an amazing pace year after year,” said Spencer Neale, vice president of commodity marketing for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “The majority of the credit, of course, goes to the growers and producers, but this is also a story of many stakeholders working together with the industry to support what has become a truly dynamic sector of Virginia agriculture. These include outstanding researchers, state agencies and organizations representing growers, and the industry at large.”
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