Episode 28: Doing Good and Doing Well: an entrepreneur's approach to oyster farming with Peter Stein of Peeko Oysters

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In this episode, host Kevin Cox sits down with Peter Stein of Peeko Oysters on Long Island's North Fork to hear about his unique journey to becoming a visionary oyster farmer and the daily realities and complexities of oyster farming. He discusses the challenges of working with a "ruthless and relentless" Mother Nature, to the surprising obstacles of starting a business in aquaculture and building it into a vertically integrated business. Beyond the farm itself Peter introduces his innovative business philosophy, the intrinsic value of a living oyster reef and the concept of ecosystem services—the idea that oyster reefs provide long-term benefits to the environment beyond just human consumption. You'll hear about his push for a shift in corporate perspectives, where businesses understand and quantify the value that an oyster reef provides far beyond merely the market price of it’s parts. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in sustainable food, the intersection of business and environmentalism, or the fascinating world of oyster farming.

00:00 A Humbling Start in Oyster Farming

00:31 Introducing Peeko Oysters

01:39 From Job Loss to Oyster Farming

02:35 The Benefits of Oyster Farming

03:49 Starting Peeko Oysters

04:14 Exploring Vertical and Aquaculture Farming

06:31 Learning the Ropes of Oyster Farming

08:29 Current Operations and Techniques

09:58 Challenges and Innovations in Oyster Farming

13:18 The Hatchery and Scaling Up

18:54 Technological Barriers and Solutions

22:34 Contract Growing and Industry Opportunities

23:37 Exploring Contract Growing in Oyster Farming

26:09 The Role of Infrastructure in Oyster Farming

27:16 Diving into Oyster Varieties and Market

28:38 The Future of Oyster Aquaculture

30:10 Valuing Oyster Reefs Beyond Harvesting

40:11 Challenges and Learning in Oyster Farming

42:45 Balancing Business Growth and Daily Operations

46:46 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Links:

Peeko Oysters website (https://peekooysters.com/)

Oyster Heaven website (https://oysterheaven.com/)

FlipFarm website (https://www.flipfarm.co.nz/)

Greenwave website (https://www.greenwave.org/)

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