Shellfish Farming in Olympia, WAshington

Chelsea Farms first made their mark on Olympia’s map in 1987 when Linda and John Lentz started their adventures in sustainable shellfish farming. Chelsea, meaning Port of Ships, was the chosen name for the company. This was the name of founding owner, John Lentz’s tugboat for geoduck diving in Olympia, Washington and also a comical gesture towards the size of their boat during their early operations, not comparable to a ship. The Lentz’s have always practiced organic sustainable farming with an environmental obligation to the South Sound and Pacific Northwest as a whole. The continual progress seen through the years from Chelsea Farms could not be more evident in the community.

Chelsea Farms: A Family Shellfish Farm

Chelsea Farms is a current working model of environmental sustainability. We have made a priority of farming the Olympia Oyster, a native oyster to Olympia, that was on it’s way to extinction. Chelsea Farms is a proud member with Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association. Sustainable farming is a key aspect to keeping the water clean. Water maintenance demands crucial attention while growing our Chelsea Gem, Bonita, and Olympia Oysters, along with our fresh clams and geoduck. Education on the water and where seafood is sourced from is essential to the experience the Farm offers.

The shellfish Chelsea Farms grows on Eld and Totten Inlet create a natural eco-system for the South Sound and provides local jobs in Thurston county. Job development belongs to a set of community ethics we at Chelsea Farms holds on high standards. Farm Manager, Shina Wysocki, takes pride in operating on a small scale farm with no warehouse, where farmers are treated as family. With a small operation, the farm can refine their oysters, truly making it Washington’s first “boutique shellfish farm.” At this time we do not offer public farm tours.

What is a Chelsea Gem?

Chelsea Farms is well-known throughout the West Coast for their “Chelsea Gem.” This petite beauty is a tide tumbled Pacific oyster. The method of growing Chelsea Gems is original, grown in tumbled bags suspended by buoys in the water. This creates a completely new flavor profile that is clean, sweet, buttery, with a delicate touch of brine.

Chelsea Farms Oysters + Shellfish isn't just a local delight. We ship our bounty across the United States. Some of our stockists include:

CHELSEA FARMS OYSTER BAR, OLYMPIA

ELLIOT’S OYSTER HOUSE, SEATTLE

WILLMOTT’S GHOST, SEATTLE

THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER, SEATTLE

WESTWARD & LITTLE GULL OYSTER BAR, SEATTLE

THE WILLOWS INN ON LUMMI ISLAND

WOODEN CITY, TACOMA

IMPERIAL, PORTLAND

HOG ISLAND OYSTER CO. CALIFORNIA