The Martha s Vineyard Times
Farm to shuck to Food Pantry
Oysters from Katama Bay available at Island Food Pantry and other food distribution programs.
Ryan Smith, left, of Signature Oysters says oyster farmers, hurt by the pandemic, have gotten a boost from a program that buys mature oysters, has them processed, then donates them to the Food Pantry.
Thousands of mature oysters that stood in the way of aquaculture farmers growing oyster seed have been purchased by the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association, brought to a processing plant off-Island, and are now in freezers at Island Food Pantry ready for distribution to the growing number of people using the pantry’s services.
That money went to 126 commercial fishermen, charter boat owners, aquaculture farmers and seafood processors.
The 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known more commonly as the CARES Act, authorized over $2 trillion in relief to individuals, businesses, hospitals, loan programs and other recipients to help ease the economic impacts of COVID-19.
The Paycheck Protection Program loans, known as PPP loans, were also part of that package, which injected $1.3 billion into the South Shore economy, with forgivable loans to 10,974 companies.
In May 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an allocation of $300 million for fisheries assistance. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Massachusetts received the third-highest amount in funding with about $28 million. Alaska and Washington received the most with $50 million each and Maine was fifth with about $20.3 million.
NEW BEDFORD The line for the St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry stretched down Nye Street as patrons came out with bags full of vegetables, fruit, canned goods and on this particular Thursday pints of frozen, shucked oysters from local growers.
This year, the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association continued a program started by the Woods Hole Sea Grant program and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, which donated over 1,700 pints of oysters to the Greater Boston Food Bank last year. Through grant funding, the organizations were able to purchase oysters and donate them to local food banks, not only helping people in need of food, but also aiding oyster growers in need of revenue.