From Oyster Farm to Table

MARTIN Schlembach loves oysters. He has his very own Cirrus SR22 airplane and used to fly it into Virginia, rent a car, drive to H.M. Terry Co. seafood market, and purchase bags of oysters to bring home to share and enjoy with friends and family. After many trips and eventually getting to know the owner of the H.M. Terry Co., Martin’s appreciation for oysters quickly grew and evolved from a love of good eats to a genuine interest in the growing process itself. “I would see the farm, and I dug the whole operation. I would bring back 100 oysters each time, and then I just kinda got to know him, and got more and more of an interest in it,” said Martin. Although that’s one of his favorite places to get seafood, he doesn’t have to travel too far to get a great bag of oysters anymore. He has started a farm of his own right here in Ocean City.