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Oysters become a firm favourite with luxury loving Scots

The festive period brought an oyster bonanza to Scotland, with orders for the shellfish delicacy more than doubling in the month of December.

Sales of oysters normally run at around five tonnes a month. But during the holidays, when people are more likely to indulge a little, the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) received orders for nearly 11 tonnes of oysters to be shucked and slurped at Christmas parties throughout the UK – and, surprisingly, Switzerland.

Michael Laurenson, SSMG chairman said: “Oyster farming can be like a military operation. Scottish oysters have to be extremely fresh and we’re working flat out to supply Britain and Switzerland with a healthy luxurious food – superb Scottish oysters.”

“As the water in Scotland that the oysters are grown in is always cool, the oysters grow at a slower rate, ensuring a better quality product. Like a fine wine, oysters mature with age when growing.”

Oysters, traditionally known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, are one of the finest luxurys in the food world, but unlike tempting chocolate, they are extremely healthy. Four medium sized oysters supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, zinc, magnesium and calcium.

Scottish oysters have one major advantage over their overseas competition – they are always in season. The Pacific Oyster spat is grown in waters along the West Coast of Scotland which never rise above 18 degrees Celsius - ensuring constant fresh growing conditions all year round.

SSMG is the UK's premier producer of finest quality shellfish, supplying supermarkets, such as Morrisons, Sainsbury, Tesco and Waitrose as well as wholesalers and restaurants with mussels, oysters and scallops farmed from the crystal clear waters of sheltered sea lochs located along the full length of the West coast of Scotland and Shetland. All of SSMG’s oyster output goes to supermarkets, wholesalers and restaurants in the UK, and one supermarket chain in Switzerland.

Things You Never Knew About Oysters

1. Oysters change sex several times during their lives.
2. The rule that says you can only eat oysters when there is an ‘R’ in the month is a myth. It is thought to have started in the days before refrigeration – but oysters gathered at any time of year are fine to eat.
3. Oysters breathe like fish. They have gills, and need to take in regular breaths.
4. Oyster Larvae develop and eye and a foot. The eye is used to find a suitable place to settle, and the foot is used to anchor the baby oyster, which becomes a ‘spat’
5. Four or five medium size oysters supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus
6. During the Seige of La Rochelle in the 16th Century, the Hugeunots used oysters as missiles when their ammunition ran out.
7. US President Abraham Lincoln used to lure crowds to his political rallies by offering free oysters. He’d serve thousands of oysters at rallies in Illinois.
8. The ancient Greeks are credited with the first cooked oyster recipe: oysters boiled in honey.

ENDS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Carrie Wallace, axis media group
T: 0141 889 6868. M: 07812 558 562
carrie@axismediagroup.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. High quality photography is available on request. Contact Carrie Wallace, Axis Media Group on 0141 889 6868 or carrie@axismediagroup.co.uk

2. The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group's farms are positioned in sheltered sea lochs along the length of the West Coast of Scotland and the Northern Isles. This means that not only do all the farms enjoy crystal clear unpolluted waters in which to rear their products, but the SSMG is able to provide a near-undisrupted supply of shellfish to its customers in spite of localised weather conditions or spawning seasons.

The Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group is situated at
Unit 8,
Block 22,
The Motherwell Food Park,
Bellshill,
Lanarkshire,
ML4 3NP,
United Kingdom

telephone 0800 032 1127 | email info@axismediagroup.co.uk
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