Dating back to 1857, the Cotuit Oyster Company has produced one of the oldest brand name oysters in the United States. The company's origins trace to Captain William Childs, who returned from a life at sea to become an oysterman, building his business into one of the biggest on Cape Cod. In those early days, oysters were packed into wooden barrels and transported across the Cape in large wagons to the railroad depot in West Barnstable, from where they were shipped by rail to Boston, New York and other northeastern cities.

The business evolved through several generations and owners, including Samuel Childs in 1894, Harry Height of Eastman Kodak in 1912, and the Seacoast Oyster Company in 1923. In 1960, three Cotuit residents bought and incorporated the company, maintaining the trademark "Cotuits-R-Superior." The operation passed through Andy Post's management until 1973, then Richard Nelson's ownership until 2004, when Chris Gargiulo took over as President and owner.

Today, Cotuit Oyster Company leases 5 shellfish aquaculture grants in Cotuit Bay totaling 33.83 acres, where their oysters develop their recognized unique briny flavor. Fresh water streams, marshes and estuaries combined with clean water from Nantucket Sound provide the oysters with a rich food supply, creating moderate salinity and a sweet finish that is known and demanded worldwide. Their modern building, pier and dock, completed in 2010, sits on the same property as the original early 1900s structure, and their close proximity to lease sites enables harvest and shipping within 24 hours.

Shellfish

• Cotuit Oysters
• Littleneck Clams