Like fine wines, Northeast US oysters have a unique flavor profile that differs based on where they’re grown. To help foreign buyers better understand this delicious, diverse, and sustainable Northeast seafood delicacy, Food Export–Northeast has created an online American Oyster Buyer’s Guide with shareable information for suppliers to use.
A key component of the new online buyer’s guide is a downloadable toolkit that has been translated into eight languages. The educational toolkit covers a wide range of topics including:
Additionally, when buyers visit the online guide, they will also find four short videos.
Since the flavor profile diversity of Northeast US oysters is one of the species’ most unique features, Food Export–Northeast has collaborated with oyster industry experts Barton Seaver, a renowned seafood chef and author, and Bob Rheault, former shellfish farmer and Executive Director of East Coast Shellfish Grower’s Association to take buyers on a virtual tasting of oysters. This two-part video series discusses that it’s the combination of the estuary or tidal areas where oysters grow, water salinity, diet and substrate mineral composition that give each oyster its unique flavor. Rheault is also featured in a third video that details handling practices, shelf life, shipping, and traceability.
The new educational materials are now being shared with Food Export–Northeast’s In-Market Representatives to help them educate foreign buyers and chefs in markets all over the world.
The new online American Oyster Buyer’s Guide is part of an ongoing project to build a unique and comprehensive Northeast US seafood species resource library for Food Export–Northeast’s In-Market Representatives and suppliers to utilize in buyer conversations. Resources for live and processed American lobster and Jonah crab are available for use, and the online sea scallop resource is in development. Visit Food Export–Northeast’s species resource library today for more information.
With its extensive programs and educational offerings, Food Export USA–Northeast (Food Export–Northeast) is recognized as the preeminent expert and cost-effective resource for Northeast seafood and agricultural suppliers looking to sell their products overseas. Founded in 1973, Food Export–Northeast is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with its 10 member states’ agricultural promotion agencies from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, to facilitate trade between suppliers and worldwide importers and to promote the export of food, agricultural and seafood products from those states. Since its founding, the organization has helped Northeast seafood suppliers gain access to a broad range of export markets, supported overseas in-market educational and promotional programs and offers emerging suppliers access to funds to help grow their export business. The organization is funded through the Market Access Program (MAP), administered by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Learn more about us and what we do for the Northeast seafood industry here. Contact us.