Oyster Shucking Contest To Be Held Saturday

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Oyster Shucking Contest To Be Held Saturday

Provincial oyster-shucking champ Janet Callaghan of Truro will defend her title at the 5th annual Nova Scotia Oyster Shucking Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Halifax City Farmers Market at 10 a.m.

Six contestants, representing the restaurant industry and oyster farming, will compete for the provincial title and an opportunity to represent Nova Scotia at the Eastern Canadian Shucking Contest later this month on Prince Edward Island.

Competitors are graded on their speed and quality of shucking. Each contestant is given 14 oysters and has to open 12 with the fewest number of penalties possible. Penalties are given for problems like mangling meat or not completely cutting the oyster from the shell. The champion must achieve the best combined scores of fastest shucked and best oyster presentation to win.

The event began five years ago as a way to promote Nova Scotia oysters and the province's oyster industry. Oyster exports from Nova Scotia are valued at almost $850,000 a year. Nova Scotia's three biggest oyster markets are the United States, St-Pierre- Miquelon and Hong Kong.

The shucking will take place at the Halifax City Farmers Market at the exterior courtyard off Lower Water Street from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Complimentary oysters will be served following the competition.