A Durham Native’s Unique Oyster Farming Operation

View This Email In Your Browser

Good morning, readers.

Most oyster farmers take at least a few days to get their shellfish from the water to your dinner plate.

Not Ryan Bethea. The owner of Oysters Carolina has spent the last eight years making same-day deliveries across North Carolina, texting customers time-stamped photos of their oysters the moment they’re pulled from the waters off Harkers Island.

A Durham native and former middle school teacher, Bethea tells the INDY his path to oyster farming began with an epiphany sparked by the sound of dress shoes on wooden floors. Now he spends his days shuttling fresh seafood across the state, sometimes starting in coastal T-shirt weather and ending in mountain snow.

On Sunday, Bethea brought his Beau Sel oysters (“beautiful salt,” in French) to Krill in Durham for an afternoon roast. Read our full Q&A with him here, where he discusses North Carolina’s untapped potential for oyster farming and the science behind his ultra-briny bivalves.

Have a good Tuesday.

—Lena

---

---

Durham

Class is in session at Night School Bar. 

The Durham City Council appointed deputy city manager Bo Ferguson to the permanent role following Wanda Page’s retirement. 

Wake

Jury deliberations are expected to begin today in downtown store owner Taz Zarka’s murder trial.

Orange

All Chapel Hill transit routes will return to full service next year.

North Carolina

Governor-elect Josh Stein is beginning to build his cabinet.

---

If you’d like to advertise your business to the Daily’s 30,000-plus subscribers, please contact [email protected]

---