beach

As you may have already guessed from our Pinterest board, we love Cape Cod. And what could be better to accompany the breathtaking New England scenery than a few of those famous Wellfleet oysters! Over the weekend, the town of Wellfleet gathered for its 13th annual Wellfleet OysterFest, a fun-filled event complete with a 5K race, local artisan fair, and even a shucking contest! And plenty of raw bars to go around, of course. Learned a few things about oysters too.

Did you know?

…Oysters are often thought to be an aphrodisiac, though there is no scientific evidence to support this. Oysters do, however, contain other vitamins like zinc, B12, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

…Oysters must be kept alive up until they are ready to be served. Submerging them in water–saltwater or freshwater–will kill them. If they die before they are prepared, they will not be safe to eat.

…Wellfleet has been an oyster center for over 400 years. After a depletion crisis in the 1800s, Aquaculture was introduced to help regulate overfishing and to maintain healthy oyster populations throughout the area.

…Recycling oyster shells is encouraged. These shells are then deposited back into the water where they will form oyster reefs. These reefs will in turn become habitats for many organisms (including barnacles, algae, and oysters) and can promote a healthy oyster population.