Shellfishing Demonstration Set for Upcoming Westport Farmers Market

WESTPORT, CT — The Westport Shellfish Commission and CT Sea Grant will sponsor a booth at the Westport Farmers Market on Thursday, Sept. 29, to demonstrate how to safely and easily harvest shellfish.

The Westport Farmers Market, located on Imperial Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is where families can find local, fresh, sustainable produce at a reasonable cost every week. However, the greening of Westport is not only about fruits and vegetables. The best satisfaction for discriminating palates also involves eating fresh, local and sustainable seafood.

Connecticut's largest farmland is actually a "garden under the sea." The offshore waters of Westport yield a rich harvest of clams, oysters and mussels that make every seafood connoisseur's mouth water, according to officials. They are an important and growing part of Connecticut’s economy. Plus, collecting shellfish is a fun, family activity.

All are invited to this free event to learn how shellfish are treasures in our own backyard - providing benefits to local water quality, protecting the shoreline, and providing an important coastal habitat.

Photo credit: planetc1, via flickr creative commons