At last we have fresh seafood available at the Bangalow Farmers Market – look out for the Brunswick oyster stall!
Noel Baggaley has been farming Sydney Rock oysters in the estuaries of the Brunswick and Tweed rivers for 35 years. This is the local species occurring naturally along the Australian east coast from about the NSW/Victorian border up to Moreton Bay. Widely regarded as the best-tasting oysters in the world, they thrive in the clear local waters. Pacific oysters are occasionally seen in the area but they don’t seem to like the lower salinity here and don’t persist.
It’s a small family business with son Michael and wife Sue helping. After harvesting and cleaning, the oysters are sent to a processor at Ballina for opening and depuration – where they are placed in tanks of salt water and treated with ultra-violet light to kill any bacteria present – to meet the NSW Food Authority standards. A product record label is then attached to the packaging, ensuring the consumer knows the oysters are from an accredited grower, their date of harvest and purification and also allowing follow-up. 
Noel has always sent his oysters to Sydney wholesale markets and processors. However, when his processor in Ballina – who used to sell at Farmers Markets – decided to give it up, Noel thought he’d try selling them
at our local Farmers Markets. He’s been operating very successfully at the Byron Farmers Markets for a couple of months now, and began in Bangalow in February. He plans to be a regular stallholder, except when heavy rain temporarily halts harvesting and purification, as the oysters need testing for bacterial contamination after rain. Oyster harvesting is seasonal but, by moving oysters to different salinity areas, the off-season can be almost eliminated.
Apart from being a taste sensation, oysters have great nutritional benefits. They are high in essential Omega-3 oils, zinc and iron and also vitamins A, B and C. They are low in cholesterol. Need any more excuses to add them to your shopping list? Noel sells the oysters opened or unopened. He gives a tip that popping the unopened oysters in the microwave for four seconds loosens the muscle and allows easy opening, or pop then on the BBQ very briefly.
Judy Baker