{"id":3474,"date":"2026-04-01T23:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=3474"},"modified":"2026-04-01T23:18:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:18:00","slug":"winters-deep-freeze-sank-long-islands-massive-oyster-industry-costing-farmers-millions-worst-of-the-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=3474","title":{"rendered":"Winter&#8217;s deep freeze sank Long Island&#8217;s massive oyster industry, costing farmers millions: &#8216;Worst of the century&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins 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<script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>They got a raw deal.<\/p>\n<p>Long Island\u2019s oyster industry has been left shellshocked after the \u201cworst winter of the century\u201d cost purveyors tons of inventory \u2014 and steep profit losses \u2014 thanks to an unprecedented deep freeze.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re buying clams and oysters about 10% higher already,\u201d Vincent\u2019s Clam Bar manager Danny Pepi told The Post of increasing costs on his Carle Place restaurant.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The oyster industry across Long Island suffered significant profit losses in what has been described as the \u201cworst winter of the century.\u201d <span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Popei\u2019s Clam Bar is purchasing oysters at a similar price hike, while owner Joe Reale said he\u2019s even struggling to shell out enough at his Bethpage eatery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes you order 300 or 400 and only get 200,\u201d Reale said.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Area oyster farms experienced the \u201cworst winter of the century,\u201d Long Island Oyster Growers Association president Eric Koepele said, leading to an economically devastating period for many growers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[My financial] losses are high six figures, low seven figures,\u201d said Peter Stein, founder of Peeko Oysters in New Suffolk on the North Fork.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt was easily north of a million oysters we lost.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New York City hotspots like Keith McNally\u2019s Balthazar in Soho and Danny Meyer\u2019s Gramercy Tavern in the Flatiron District, as well as establishments on Long Island, serve his shellfish.<\/p>\n<p>But Stein recently had to break the news to all his Big Apple clientele that they had to suspend distribution due to the alarmingly low supply.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve spoken to enough therapists,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n<p>The massive problem came from nearly a month of temperatures \u2014 in January and February \u2014 that sank below freezing \u2014 and caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of ice to accumulate and shift, killing the underwater crop and rendering his equipment unusable.<\/p>\n<p>The cost of lobster is also pinching customers across Long Island thanks to the frigid weather this winter.<\/p>\n<p>Koepele estimates about $2.3 million worth of equipment damage across the Island\u2019s local industry \u2014 it produces nearly 10 million oysters a year \u2014 coupled with oyster farmers losing, on average, 33% of their crop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose are pretty sobering numbers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The association was even forced to launch a special collection program just to round up all the mangled equipment washing up on shorelines out east.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had a team of three or four guys working full-time to just recover all of the gear,\u201d said Stein. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s two months\u2019 worth of salaries for three or four people who have been doing nothing to advance the farm.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cIt was easily north of a million oysters we lost,\u201d Peter Stein, founder of Peeko Oysters in New Suffolk, told The Post. <span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He added that Long Island\u2019s Peconic Bay \u2014 the massive 31-mile-long and 6-mile-wide water body separating the North and South Forks \u2014 was practically frozen thick enough to walk end to end this winter.<\/p>\n<p>Staff for Phil Mastrangelo, co-owner of Oysterponds Shellfish a Co., resorted to using a chainsaw to cut through the wild amounts of ice near his shallow water farm, a few miles east in Orient.<\/p>\n<p>It was a shocking first for the long-time oyster farmer.<\/p>\n<p>The massive ice wrecked about $200,000 worth of Oysterponds equipment \u2014 despite Mastrangelo investing about $50,000 in winterizing his hardware \u2014 and he considers himself comparatively lucky.<\/p>\n<p>He supplies chef Eric Ripert\u2019s Le Bernadin in the city, as well as North Fork hot spots Duryea\u2019s Orient Point location and Maroni Cuisine in Southold.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Stein also mentioned his losses are as high as seven figures. <span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller for NY Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shell or high water<\/h2>\n<p>The industry hasn\u2019t fared much better off of Long Island either.<\/p>\n<p>Canadian oysters from areas like Prince Edward Island are fighting fatal disease outbreaks of multinucleate sphere unknown (MSX), which are also boosting prices, according to Mastrangelo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA Canadian oyster for wholesale is 90 cents \u2014 I\u2019m selling my oyster wholesale for 70,\u201d Mastrangelo added, saying he hasn\u2019t had to raise his prices.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Koepele said it could impact up to half of the Great White North\u2019s harvest.<\/p>\n<p>On the bright side, however, both Pepi and Stein are hearing that oyster prices may calm down as warmer weather approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Mastrangelo said it will really come down to the weather over the next few weeks that could make or break summer outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe sun is everything. It helps the algae multiply,\u201d he said. \u201cNo rainy Aprils.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stein won\u2019t hide in his shell, either. His Peeko Oysters plans to explore creative alternatives to wholesaling, like tastings, partnerships and leaning into agrotourism to make ends meet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to make the best of a sh\u2013ty situation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; 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display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114302\" data-width=\"133\" data-height=\"139\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114302});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"height:125px; background:#91e7ac; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n\t\r\n<!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114303\" data-width=\"125\" data-height=\"125\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114303});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u53f3\u4fa7\u7ad6\u680f\uff1a160\u00d7600 \u6574\u5217\u9ad8\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-row:3\/8; height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/01\/us-news\/winters-deep-freeze-sank-long-islands-massive-oyster-industry-costing-farmers-millions-worst-of-the-century\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>They got a raw deal. Long Island\u2019s oyster industry has been left shellshocked after the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[4001,4000,3995,95,1494,3999,3997,721,1543,1983,3998,3996,3994,1803],"class_list":["post-3474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-century","tag-costing","tag-deep","tag-farmers","tag-freeze","tag-industry","tag-islands","tag-long","tag-massive","tag-millions","tag-oyster","tag-sank","tag-winters","tag-worst"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162.jpg",1200,799,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-768x511.jpg",640,426,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-1024x682.jpg",640,426,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162.jpg",1200,799,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162.jpg",1200,799,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-1024x682.jpg",1024,682,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/124856162-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=349\" rel=\"category\">Blog<\/a>","tag_info":"Blog","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}