Big Tree Oysters

Rockport, TX

Date Funded: October, 2024

Big Tree Oysters is a five-acre oyster mariculture operation in Texas' Copano Bay. Owned by conservation biologist Amy Belair and her husband Seth, Big Tree's goal is to sustain the vital role of oysters in the Gulf ecosystem while protecting wild oyster populations and ensuring oysters remain a key part of Gulf Coast food culture.

Big Tree produces delicious local oysters without the need for feed, fertilizer, or chemical inputs of any kind. The oysters feed exclusively on nutrients that exist in the water around them while improving water quality, enhancing habitat structure, and reducing pressure on wild oyster reefs.

After a very successful first harvest in 2023, Big Tree sought grant funding to expand production. A Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture allowed Big Tree to purchase essential processing equipment, cold storage, and machinery to scale their operation, and a low-interest bridge loan from Foodshed Capital allowed them to cover upfront costs ahead of grant reimbursement.