East Coast Shellfish Growers Association June 2024 Newsletter

—Continued from page 2
Pangea Shellfish Co.
His advice for new growers trying to break
into the market: “Don’t get too stuck in
your methods. Things change from year
to year and it’s always good to experiment
with techniques and new gear. Try to have a
consistent supply. It’s tempting to run out of
oysters before winter, but wholesalers need a
year-round supply. Don’t get discouraged by
weak fall sales because the market is flooded
and nobody wants them! Hang on till spring
and markets always recover.” With hundreds
of oyster brands to compete with, Ben maintains
that quality and strong branding are
now more important than ever.
In terms of where the market is headed, Ben
is noticing more and more consolidation of
late. “A lot of people are realizing how much
work goes into growing oysters, and it’s often
a grind. Smaller farms are getting gobbled up
to create larger, more efficient companies.
I think this is inevitable.”
Ben noted that Pangea wouldn’t
be where it is today without
their staff of dedicated employees.
“Many of our crew
have been with us for eightplus
years, and our V.P. Dan
Light has been with us for 21!
The wholesale and farm employees
show up every day, and battle
through the ups and downs and poor
weather. They are the backbone of our business.”
Ben is active in many associations, including
the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association
and the ECSGA. He also believes
it’s important to become involved in local
politics, especially when farms are located
in small towns. He explained that Pangea
takes part in, “quite a bit of charitable work”
and participates in various fundraisers. The
company’s “Season of Giving”
includes fundraising efforts for
the Massachusetts Aquaculture
Association in September,
Breast Cancer Awareness in
October, Feeding America
in November, and Toys for
Tots in December. “It’s been
very successful for us, and our
customers really get behind the
efforts, with some even matching
our contributions!” he said.
In addition to all that charitable work, Ben
has been actively supporting the ECSGA for
decades because, as he says, “This business
is tough, and we all need someone fighting
for our interests. It’s hard to find the time to
do this effectively on your own. The ECSGA
does a great job of polling its members on
their relevant issues and acting on those,
both regionally and nationally. They are a
great partner to have in your corner.”
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ECSGA Newsletter
Page 6 Issue 2 June 2024