GRAND ISLE — The Grand Isle oyster business is rebounding in 2025, closing out its best year since the early 1980s. New aquafarming practices are overcoming environmental damage that scoured the once-fertile seabed, and cooperative branding as Grand Isle Jewels is amplifying awareness and increasing exports.
“The seafood industry is hugely important to Jefferson Parish and, as a whole, contributes $2.4 billion annually to Louisiana’s economy,” said Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) President and CEO Jerry Bologna. “With Grand Isle Jewels, we are able to support this incredible oyster revival and celebrate the hard work happening on the coast to diversify our economy, preserve our culture and raise awareness for all types of Louisiana delicacies.”
Similar to New York strip steak or Napa Valley wines, Grand Isle Jewels’ location-specific branding was created by JEDCO and launched in April. The umbrella brand represents all off-bottom oysters farmed in Grand Isle, including: Barataria Beauties, Bayside Oysters, Bright Side Oyster Co., BooZoo Oyster Co., Island Oyster Co., Lady Nellie, Little Moon, Silver Spoon Oysters, Go Fish and Top Water Oyster Co.
Grand Isle Jewels farmers are also hosting pickup locations now through Christmas Eve for people to enjoy Grand Isle Jewels at home for the holidays. Pickups are offered in Grand Isle, New Orleans, Lafayette and St. Rose. Additionally, home deliveries will span from Baton Rouge to the Florida panhandle during the holiday season. For a complete list of holiday pickup locations, delivery schedules and order information, visit GrandIsleJewels.com.
Grand Isle Jewels also directly serves restaurants in the Southeastern U.S. and Texas and is expanding distribution through a partnership with Inland Foods, one of the largest specialty seafood suppliers in America.
“We’ve gotten a great boost from JEDCO with Grand Isle Jewels. Our oysters are now in the best New Orleans restaurants. I’m hearing from people in Alaska, New England, California — all the coastal states — who want to serve Grand Isle Jewels, too,” said Kirk Curole, owner of Grand Isle Jewels’ Bayside Oysters. “I remember when Grand Isle was known world-wide for growing the best-tasting oysters, and I’m very proud to bring that tradition back.”
The thriving Grand Isle Jewels farms use off-bottom farming techniques, growing oysters in cages just under the water’s surface, rather than dredging the seafloor. The cages are filled with hundreds of thousands of hardy oyster larvae, often called ‘seeds’ that float in Grand Isle Aquapark’s unique mix of ocean and estuary water sources. This one-of-a-kind environment and optimal salinity give Grand Isle Jewels a uniquely briny and bright flavor. Because of the abundant food supply available higher in the water column, Grand Isle Jewels can be harvested multiple times a year and are always in season.
To learn more about Grand Isle Jewels, visit GrandIsleJewels.com.
About JEDCO:
The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) is the economic development organization for the parish with the main objective of attracting, growing, and creating new business in the area. JEDCO’s mission is to proactively influence the economy through the retention and creation of quality jobs, entrepreneurship, and investment in Jefferson Parish. Located in the growing Churchill Technology & Business Park, JEDCO supports the Jefferson Parish economy through its award-winning economic development services program and a dynamic small business financing arm. Since inception, JEDCO has attracted global brands to the community, including Fuji Vegetable Oil, Sleep Number, Dyno Nobel, and US Foods in recent years. The organization has generated millions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs in Jefferson Parish. For more information, visit JEDCO.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, and LinkedIn.
About Grand Isle Jewels:
The Grand Isle Jewels oyster brand was created through Louisiana Economic Development grant funding awarded to JEDCO to promote off-bottom oyster varieties grown in Grand Isle. Each Grand Isle off-bottom oyster variety retains its own unique identity under the Jewels umbrella brand to make this specific type of boutique seafood product easily recognizable. If they are Jewels, they are Grand Isle off-bottom oysters. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @grandislejewels.