For 23 years the Allyn seafood farmer has been growing and harvesting oysters and clams from local waters and selling them at the Port Orchard Farmers market, the Boat House restaurant in Allyn, Amy’s in Port Orchard and to a wholesale San Francisco market. He sells 600 – 900 oysters and about 800 pounds of clams per week. He also sells from his own retail stand on State Route 3 near Allyn.
“I’ve made a good family income with my clam and oyster business,” says Farmer. “But it’s a lot of hard work and even though I have two full-time employees, I need to put long hours in myself.”
Farmer has a 22-foot long aluminum boat that he can trailer around easily to his locations to check on and harvest his seafood crops. All of his clams are Manila and his oysters come in several sizes – he say the two-three inch oyster is the most popular here but he says the giant ones, about 7 inches long are adored in Hong Kong.
“I picked Allyn for my home for a good reason – it’s just about half way between my major harvest areas in the Canal and south Sound,” said Farmer, who is originally from Renton.
He says the demand around here for his retail products has decreased slightly with the economic downturn but that his San Francisco wholesale market increased enough in September and October that his sales are up right now.
“But I’m glad my wife, Jean, works as a bookkeeper for St. Gabriel’s and Prince of Peace Catholic Churches because her job has benefits,” says Farmer. “And she’s a big help to me too – she also does all my bookwork and helps out with other parts of the business.”
Farmer grows his oysters on three owned acres and 28 acres of leased property, both in Hood Canal and south Puget Sound. When the local oysters spawn and get milky in the summer months here, he buys a sexless triploid oyster from a trusted source in California who has been raising these oysters for many years. His clams are grown on about two acres and the refrigeration and processing shed is on their property in Allyn.
Farmer sells his products under his own name because he will sell only quality products with his name attached to it and his customers, many of whom are second generation, expect that quality from him. Jean says they could have become a lot bigger but Tom wants to be personally involved with quality control.
“I always taste a sample of every product before it goes to market,” says Tom. “I want to know first-hand if it’s up to my expectations.”
At 52, he says he knows the back-breaking work and long hours may limit the number of years he has left so he and Jean plan to eventually sell business. Both are very active in the community – Jean is port commissioner for the Ports of Allyn and Victor and is treasurer for the Port Orchard Farmers market. Tom is a recently elected Public Utility Commissioner and is president of the Theler Wetlands.
But this industrious couple is a big fan of their own products too. Tom says they have oysters and clams at least once a month for dinner and enjoy going out to restaurants that serve their product to see what they do with them. And they’ve concocted some recipes of their own that they love to serve to guests. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, these succulent bi-valves are an added treat for many Northwest families – oyster stuffing is very popular and they are always welcome as an appetizer.
“My favorite way to serve oysters as an appetizer is to cook them on the barbecue until the shells just open, top them with some butter melted with a little minced garlic , then top that with some freshly grated parmesan which seals the flavors in and helps to keep them warm,” says Farmer.
Tom Farmer Oysters retail outlet is located at 17001 State Route 3, about a mile south of Allyn. Both products are available only in the shell – oysters sell for $5.25 per dozen and clams for $4 per pound. Hours of operation are daily from 9 – 5 but customers are advised to call ahead to make sure they are open and have product available as store hours and supply are dictated by tides and subsequent delivery. Telephone (360) 275-5832 or e-mail Tom Farmer Oysters