A South Florida aquaculture startup is harvesting oysters from the Everglades and delivering them to restaurant tables across Miami-Dade County, giving local diners a traceable option on the half shell.
Everglades Oysters, cofounded by Joshua Wilkie and Fabio Galarce, operates a 74-acre aquaculture lease deep in the Everglades and uses a zero-inventory model: Oysters remain in the water until a chef places an order, then arrive at the restaurant within a day or two of harvest.
The company's client list includes Sunny's Steakhouse in Miami's Little River neighborhood, The River Oyster Bar, Klaw Miami in Edgewater and Maple & Ash at Miami Worldcenter. Several are located along the Biscayne corridor, a short drive south for North Miami-Dade diners.
"Chefs place orders, we harvest specifically for them, and those oysters are on their menu within a day or two of leaving the water," Wilkie told Aventura Magazine in a profile published Wednesday. He said the shortened harvest-to-table timeline improves texture and shelf life compared with oysters that move through a traditional supply chain.
FlipFarm technology streamlines harvesting and reduces manual labor
The farm uses the FlipFarm system, a semi-automated growing method developed in New Zealand. Floating cages are linked together and can be flipped and harvested directly from a boat deck, reducing manual labor and biofouling. University of Florida shellfish researchers list FlipFarm among the recommended technologies for Florida aquaculture operations.
Daily operations require long boat trips through the mangroves to flip cages, grade oysters, monitor growth and check water conditions. Wilkie described the work as physically demanding but said the system allows the team to perform most tasks on deck rather than relying on traditional hand-tonging methods.
The company also returns harvested oyster shells to the water through a recycling program designed to help rebuild oyster reefs that Wilkie said have "basically disappeared" from South Florida.
Florida's oyster industry rebounds as growers expand production and restore reefs
The startup enters a growing market. Florida shellfish aquaculture generated $10.5 million in oyster sales across 92 growers in 2023, according to the Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association.
The state's best-known oyster fishery, Apalachicola Bay, reopened to commercial harvesting Jan. 1 after a six-year closure caused by declining oyster reefs.
Wilkie said the Gulf of Mexico's reputation for oysters suffered not because of water quality but because of how oysters were historically harvested and handled. By controlling the process from harvest to delivery, he said, the company is producing a higher-quality product.
Where to find Everglades Oysters at South Florida restaurants
Residents who want to try Everglades Oysters can find them on the menus at Sunny's Steakhouse (Sunny's Steakhouse), The River Oyster Bar (The River Oyster Bar), Klaw Miami(The Klaw Miami) and Maple & Ash (Maple & Ash).
