These Are Our

Products

Zippel’s Smoky Bay Oysters wholesale a range of sizes to meet the differing needs of a complex range of consumers through the commercial seafood chain. Standard industry sizing of oysters is determined by the length of the internal shell cavity rather than the overall length, which does surprise many people.

By measuring shell cavity rather than shell length, the buyer can then estimate a minimum quality standard for the amount of that delicious oyster meat that should be present in each oyster. Oysters are still sold by the traditional dozen (12) from the point of harvest to the final point of consumption, and the larger the size (therefore the weight), the higher the price.

Our Products

- 01

BISTRO

between 50mm to 60mm: Generally considered the “buffet” oyster, highly suitable for buffets (found at bistros) and those who just want a “taste”

- 02

Plate

between 60mm to 70mm: Tends to be perfect size for the resteraunts plate, hence the name and where they are mostly enjoyed.

- 03

Standard

between 70mm to 80mm: In the early days of the South Australian industry, this size was considered the industry standard. Generally, more of a size suitable for retail markets and seafood outlets.

- 04

LARGE

between 85mm to 100mm: Usually a small percentage of a grower’s production and suited to specialty markets, particularly Asian.

- 05

Jumbo

over 100mm: Quite rare in a normal growing year, quite often oysters that “got missed” when batches are graded. Sometimes a dozen of these weigh in excess of 3 kilograms.

The Zippel Oysters Range

Zippel’s Smoky Bay Oysters provides the following range of whole oyster sizes to the wholesale market (availability can vary depending on seasonal conditions, particularly in the larger sizes). Each oyster size is given a name which then makes it easier for buyers to order.

Bistro – between 50mm to 60mm: Generally considered the “buffet” oyster, highly suitable for buffets (found at bistros) and those who just want a “taste”.

Plate – between 60mm to 70mm: Tends to be perfect size for the resteraunts plate, hence the name and where they are mostly enjoyed.
Standard – between 70mm to 80mm: In the early days of the South Australian industry, this size was considered the industry standard. Generally, more of a size suitable for retail markets and seafood outlets.
Large – between 85mm to 100mm: Usually a small percentage of a grower’s production and suited to specialty markets, particularly Asian.
Jumbo – over 100mm: Quite rare in a normal growing year, quite often oysters that “got missed” when batches are graded. Sometimes a dozen of these weigh in excess of 3 kilograms.

Whole (unopened) oysters are supplied to the trade in the century old practice of packing in hessian sacks stored in refrigeration at approximately 5 degrees Celsius. This allows the oysters to “breathe”, where the cold refrigerated air can circulate through the hessian and around the oysters.

Even after all of this time, this is still a very effective way to provide whole oysters in bulk biodegradable packaging (as compared to plastic polymer bags).

In regards to offering to the general public, Zippel’s Smoky Bay Oysters provide the following 2 grades of unopened oysters, supplied in a hessian sack and placed in refrigerated transport to Adelaide for collection (or collected from our shed or delivered to Ceduna):

Plate – up to 30 dozen per hessian sack (minimum 10 dozen order) for $11 / dozen ex Smoky Bay.
Standard – up to 25 dozen per hessian sack (minimum 10 dozen order) for $12 / dozen ex Smoky Bay.
For opened oysters in half dozen trays supplied in a foam box with Ice Gel pack, please add $3.00 per dozen for each of these grades (minimum 20 dozen order).

Unopened oysters can also be supplied in a foam box plus ice Gel pack for an extra $10 per box and payment can phone payments are welcomed as we have Eftpos facilities.

Oysters delivered to Adelaide have to be collected from McEvoy Transport, located at 6 Railway Terrace, Dry Creek and freight costs $15 per bag or foam box. Collecting them yourself from the depot saves significantly in freight cost.

Caring for your oysters to get the best out of them.

Once you receive your unopened oysters, Zippel’s Smoky Bay Oysters recommends that if you can’t fit them in your fridge, then you can leave them in the hessian sack and put them in an esky then cover with ice. When done properly, this will keep them for up to 7 days. This is actually called “the curtain of ice” technique and has been used effectively in the past to hold live shellfish, including scallops and mussels where some sort of cloth barrier is put between the ice and the shellfish. In this case, the hessian provides the barrier. It is important however that you keep the melted ice water drained from the esky (as oysters don’t like being in iced water) as well as regularly replenish the ice. For opened oysters, Zippel’s Smoky Bay Oysters recommends that you put them immediately in the fridge or chill to fridge temperature some other way once you are home. The foam box and the icepack will keep them at this temperature until you get home after collecting them from the McEvoy Transport chiller.