At Cherrystone Aqua-Farms, sustainability and tradition go hand in hand. For more than a century, the Ballard family and their community of watermen have been farming oysters and clams on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Today, Cherrystone is leading the way in sustainable aquaculture, from protecting pristine waterways to adopting innovative, eco-friendly packaging.
We sat down with the team at Cherrystone to talk about what makes their farm unique, how they balance quality with environmental stewardship, and why sustainable packaging has become an important part of their story.
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Q (Atlantic): Why is shellfish farming considered beneficial to the environment?
A (Cherrystone): Science over the last decade has shown that shellfish farming is a net positive for the environment. Shellfish like oysters and clams remove carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic sediments from waterways. In doing so, they actively improve water quality while providing a sustainable food source.
Q: Can you tell us a little about Cherrystone’s location and what makes it unique?
A: Cherrystone is located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. These ocean-flushed, pristine waterways create the perfect conditions for shellfish, giving them a distinctive flavor that’s both salty and sweet, a profile that sets our oysters and clams apart.
Q: Beyond the environment, what really sets Cherrystone apart from other aquafarms?
A: Our people are what really sets us apart. Many of our team members have worked on the water for generations, including the Ballard family, who have been in this industry for over 100 years. Our watermen aren’t just farming oysters and clams, they’re deeply invested in the community, the waterways, and preserving this way of life.
Q: How does sustainability influence the way you operate?
A: We believe that what’s good for the planet is good for our business. Taking care of ecosystems and ensuring the health of our waterways is essential. As stewards of this environment, we’re committed to making conscious decisions in everything we do, from farming practices to packaging and shipping.
Q: Shipping live shellfish must be challenging. What solutions have you found?
A: It’s certainly not easy. Live shellfish has to stay within a very narrow temperature range, even when shipped across the country. That’s where our collaboration with Atlantic Packaging and their Solution Center came in. Together, we tested multiple packaging options under rigorous conditions. Cruz Foam ultimately came out on top, delivering the durability and temperature control we needed, all in a sustainable material.
Q: How has sustainable packaging impacted the customer experience?
A: Our commitment to sustainable packaging for our e-commerce customers has elevated their overall experience with Cherrystone. The unboxing experience now reflects the same care and quality that goes into growing our shellfish. Customers receive a beautifully branded box with clear instructions on how to recycle the materials. It reinforces our ethos of sustainability and ensures our packaging is just as thoughtful as the product inside.
Q: What does sustainability mean to Cherrystone’s long-term vision?
A: It’s about stewardship — not just for today, but for generations. We live, work, and play on these waterways, and we want our children’s children to enjoy them too. That means making deliberate, responsible choices at every step of the process: how we farm, what we farm, and how we ship. Sustainability isn’t a side note for us — it’s at the heart of everything we do.
Closing Thoughts
Cherrystone Aqua-Farms is more than a shellfish farm. It’s a model for how tradition, community, and sustainability can thrive together. By investing in innovative packaging solutions and maintaining their commitment to protecting waterways, Cherrystone is showing how aquaculture can be a force for good. Their story is proof that when businesses put the planet first, everyone benefits.
Learn more about Cruz Cool here along with our other sustainable packaging solutions.
Order fresh Cherrystone oysters and clams shipped right to your home in the Cruz Cool here: clamandoyster.com/collections/our-products