Meet the Farmer

Ralph grew up commercial fishing with his father in Rhode Island, which led him to earn his degree in marine biology. His focus was on coastal ecosystem rehabilitation, mainly eel grass beds. While earning his degree he worked for a nonprofit restoring Narragansett Bay and worked on a friend’s oyster farm. That is when he had his first true oyster and fell in love with oyster farming.

In Ralph’s words, “Aphrodite is the product of a life, long love of the ocean. I grew up with the ocean and have dedicated a lot of energy in my life so far towards striking a balance between coastal communities and the ecosystems we rely on. I’ve worked in a handful of countries with various communities on projects to support livelihoods while benefiting the ocean. Eventually I came to the realization that the change I want to see in the world starts with me. For the last 13 years I’ve become deeply embedded in this community on the Olympic Peninsula. Aphrodite is the name of the oyster that represents my effort to be a part of community and support healthy coastal ecosystems.”