Bi-Monthly Newsletter from ORP - March/April 2012
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Are you a winner?
SRA Around the Bay:
With MD's wild harvest closed for the season some restaurants are winding down their oyster service, while others who have a strong tourist crowd, are actually cranking up for the summer. Regardless, oysters are available and eaten year round and we want your shell!
To continue shell collection service this summer please be aware:
- Shells should be kept in cold storage.
- Only hard oyster and clam shells.
- No cups, forks, or plastic gloves in bins.
If you cannot provide cold storage for your shells you may be suspended from ORP pickup for the summer season. If you do have walk-in space, we appreciate you making room for the shells! As always, self service to one of our dumpsters is an option for your restaurant to dispose of shells when cold storage is unavailable.
Your Friend in Need...Of Shell,
Bryan Gomes
"Shell" us what you think!
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Building Your Brand Through SRA
New Materials For Your Restaurant: 
ORP has recently created some fantastic new SRA marketing materials to be used to educate your patrons and staff about your effort in helping restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. New items include: hostess stand signs, window clings, rack cards and small table tents. Please let ORP know if you would like to utilize our new materials! |
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Are you a
"Shells Angel?"
The Oyster Recovery Partnership is excited to announce a recognition program to recognize and distinguish Shell Recycling Alliance members who have made outstanding contributions towards improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its oyster population.
Shells Angels will receive additional benefits from the SRA program including:
- Increased Media Presence: ORP will send interested press to your restaurant and reference you in news opportunities, including press
- Hatchery Tour Access: ORP will offer summer tours of the Horn Point Lab Oyster Hatchery to give your staff the opportunity to see the restoration process firsthand and how your shell is used to restore the oyster population. These opportunities are excellent for team building and education.
- Premium ORP Staff Pickup Service: Offered for shell supply levels greater than 250 bushels in major SRA coverage areas.
This program allows us to widely publicize your community efforts and helps to offset our transportation and recycling costs. Want to be a Shells Angel? Contact Bryan Gomes on bgomes@oysterrecovery.org.
Newest Shells Angel
Poste: Thank you to Chef Dennis and Poste Moderne Brasserie for their recent Earth Day 'Oysterstock' event benefitting ORP. This fundraiser featured the area's best oysters, lamb, beer, wine, spirits and live bands. |
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Buy Local
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources 'True Blue' certification program now allow restaurants serving Department-verified Maryland blue crab product to use a special logo in marketing or advertising the product. Currently, it is unclear to consumers whether they are purchasing blue crab product that was actually harvested in Maryland. By providing this certification program and logo, consumers will be more aware of what they are purchasing and food service establishments serving Maryland harvested blue crab and Maryland blue crab harvesters, wholesalers, and dealers will benefit from the ability to market their product. |
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News & Events
NEWS
SRA members often garner media attraction as part of our program. Here is a sample:
Washington City Paper - Young & Hungry: What to Eat This Weekend
March 6, 2012: Tickets were on sale for "Oysterstock" at Poste Moderne Brasserie, an Earth Day-themed celebration benefiting the Oyster Recovery Partnership on April 22. Chef Dennis Marron prepared Rappahannock and War Shore oysters, plus house-made sausages, coleslaw, mac and cheese and steamed clams among other delicious dishes.
Crisfield Blogger - Local Photographer Paty Hancock Highlights Shell Recycling Alliance
April 16, 2012: Great example of how Shell Recycling signage motivates patrons to support participating establishments.
Maryland DNR Communications Office - "Bounty of the Bay" Dinner Sees Great Success
March 6, 2012: More than 150 diners consisting of watermen and seafood enthusiasts recently gathered to celebrate Maryland Seafood at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Bounty of the Bay at Boatyard Bar & Grill in Annapolis.
EVENTS
Come see ORP at one of our upcoming events:
Zoofari National Zoo:
May 17, 2012 - National Zoo Washington, DC
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"Shell" Us What You Think!
ORP is continuously working to make the Shell Recycling Alliance a great program for everyone involved. Please respond to this email with any feedback you have on how we can improve
the effort and recruit new members to help our Bay! |
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The Oyster Recovery Partnership, with its coalition of partners, have produced and planted more than 3 billion oysters on 1,500 acres of oyster reefs, and helped recycle nearly 15,000 bushels of oyster shell. In addition to its large-scale oyster recovery activities, ORP operates the Shell Recycling Alliance, supports the Marylanders Grow Oysters program, and provides aquaculture and wild fishery support services.
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