Seth and Dorothy Garfield started their 1st year of operating the oyster farm and Raw Bar in 1981. The West End pond has been used to raise Belon Oysters (81-89) and now the famous Cuttyhunk Oyster.
The company must apply to the town every ten years to renew it's lease agreement. This allows the company to use the water column in the West End pond, as well as an area of bottom in the harbor at Penikese Island. The bivalves are planted at the size of 2.5 cm in early May; they then sit in nets hanging in the water column, feeding on the naturally produced phytoplankton. This happens 24 hours a day until they reach market size which, for fast growers, may be as soon as four months. During this time, the West End pond crew works five days a week thinning, cleaning nets, and sieving the oysters to give them as much space and food as they need. Techniques are continually improving to keep our overhead low and prices reasonable.
The Garfield's look forward to continuing the tradition of raising the finest oysters in Buzzard Bay and serving them to you on the Floating Raw Bar and at privately catered events throughout the year.
TIMELINE
1981
Farm is born
Raw Bar starts
1982
CSFI begins to sell oysters wholesale
1986
Catered Lobster Bakes start
1989
Belon oysters are phased out of production in favor of the Cuttyhunk Oyster
1992
Raw Bar service to Tarpaulin Cove and Hadley Harbor start
1995
Down Island service stops
2002
CSFI goes global with cuttyhunkshellfish.com
2003
Began serving catered lobster dinners at a fixed location (Lobsters on the Lawn)
2009
Celebrated our 28th Anniversary
2010
Celebrated our 29th Anniversary.
West End Cut Dredged - August '10
Fall '10 - Oyster production increases and water quality improves in Westend Pond
2011
30th Anniversary celebration
Tropical Storm Irene closes inlet to West End Pond
2012
Hurricane Sandy reopens inlet to West End Pond
2014
New inlet created for better water exchange