Where to Buy Fresh Oysters Online (And How to Choose the Best Ones)
Where to Buy Fresh Oysters
Your Guide to Getting the Freshest Willapa Bay Oysters
Finding truly fresh oysters can be confusing: not every market, restaurant, or retailer handles oysters with the care they require. At Willapa Wild, our oysters are harvested to order, packed the same day, and shipped using the same cold-chain process we use for our restaurant partners around the country. Our focus on regenerative means that not only are they great tasting and good for you, they are also hugely beneficial for the environment.
Whether you’re ordering online, visiting us in Oysterville, or buying through select retailers, here’s how to get the freshest oysters possible.
Order Fresh Oysters Online (Nationwide Shipping)
For most customers, the fastest and most reliable way to get fresh oysters is to order directly from us.
Buy Fresh Small Oysters
All oysters are:
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Harvested to order
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Packed the same day
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Shipped cold
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Delivered to your door alive and flavorful
This is the exact same product we ship weekly to restaurants across the country.
Visit Oysterville Sea Farms (Our Retail Location)
If you’re on the Washington Coast, you can buy oysters directly from our historic waterfront cannery — the home of Willapa Wild and the oldest continuously operating shellfish farm site in Oysterville.
Oysterville Sea Farms
Oysterville, WA
Open year-round
Local pickup available during business hours
You can also enjoy:
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Shucked oysters
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Willabay® sauces and seasonings
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Oysterville Select™ oysters (in season)
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Fresh seafood (varying by day and tide)
Find Willapa Wild Oysters at Select Restaurants & Retailers
We supply oysters to restaurants and markets throughout Washington, Oregon, and beyond. While availability changes by season and route, these are typical partners:
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Chef-driven restaurants
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Oyster bars
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Coastal markets
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Premium seafood counters
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Farm-to-table kitchens
How to Ensure You’re Getting a Fresh Oyster
Regardless of where you buy them, fresh oysters should:
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Smell like clean seawater
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Close tightly when tapped
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Feel heavy for their size
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Be cool to the touch (34–40°F)
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Come with harvest tags showing origin & date
If you’re ever unsure, ask:
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“What’s the harvest date?”
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“How were they stored?”
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“Were these harvested to order or held in inventory?”
Freshness matters, especially for raw consumption.
Why Source Directly From Willapa Wild?
Willapa Bay is one of the cleanest estuaries in the United States, and our farming practices prioritize environmental restoration, natural processes, and zero-waste distribution.
When you order directly from us:
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You get oysters harvested specifically for you
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You support regenerative aquaculture
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You receive full traceability
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You know your oysters are alive and safe
No distributors. No warehouses. No guessing.
Just oysters harvested the right way.
Related Oyster Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is the best place to buy fresh oysters?
The best option is direct-from-farm delivery. When you order from Willapa Wild, your oysters are harvested to order, packed the same day, and shipped using the same cold-chain methods we use for our restaurant partners.
2. Do grocery stores carry Willapa Wild oysters?
Yes. Select retailers — including New Seasons Markets in Oregon and Washington — carry our oysters. Availability varies by location, so we recommend calling ahead or ordering online for guaranteed freshness.
3. Can I buy oysters directly from your farm?
Yes. Our historic retail location, Oysterville Sea Farms, offers fresh oysters, Willabay® gourmet foods, and seasonal seafood. Local pickup is available during operating hours.
4. Do restaurants serve Willapa Wild oysters?
Yes. Our oysters are featured at chef-driven restaurants, oyster bars, and seafood kitchens across the country, including well-known establishments such as STK. Menus change often, so availability varies.
5. How do I know if oysters are fresh when buying in person?
Fresh oysters should:
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smell like clean seawater
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close tightly when tapped
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feel cold and heavy for their size
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come with a harvest tag
If an oyster is warm, dry, or stays open, don’t buy it.
6. Is it safe to buy oysters online?
Yes, when purchased from a licensed farm using proper cold-chain shipping. We harvest to order, pack the same day, and ship using insulated packaging and ice packs to maintain ideal temperatures.
7. What’s the difference between buying oysters in-store vs online?
In-store oysters are harvested on schedule and held until sold. Online oysters from Willapa Wild are harvested specifically for your order, giving you maximum freshness and shelf life.
8. Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. We ship oysters nationwide using express cold-chain carriers to ensure they arrive alive, cold, and ready to enjoy.
About This Guide (Expertise & Accuracy)
This guide is based on years of firsthand experience farming, harvesting, packing, and distributing oysters from Willapa Bay, one of the cleanest estuaries in the United States. Willapa Wild ships oysters weekly to restaurants and retailers across the country, using professional cold-chain methods that meet:
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FDA National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) standards
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Washington State Department of Health shellfish handling regulations
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HACCP seafood safety protocols
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Industry best practices for harvest-to-delivery cold chain management
All of the recommendations in this article reflect the real purchase options available to customers, along with the same procedures we use for our wholesale restaurant partners, retail accounts, and direct-to-consumer shipments.
If you have questions about buying oysters, storage, freshness, or safety, our team is available anytime at info@willabay.com.
Questions About Buying Oysters?
We’re here to help with freshness, storage, safety, and shipping:
📬 info@willabay.com