May 22, 2000

In the United States, the consumption of the blue mussel has doubled in the last five years from 35 million to 70 million pounds. This is only an average of a quarter of a pound per person - making the potential for growth in the mussel industry huge.

Adding to the mussel's newfound popularity is recent television coverage on Martha Stewart Living Television on April 25th, which featured Great Eastern Mussel Farms, plus several gourmet mussel recipes. Additional "mussel" coverage includes the TV Food Network (both Emeril Lagasse and Good Eats) and Public Television (New England Cooking nationally and Made in Maine).

Martha Stewart's "mussel segment" featured Michael Formichella who prepared several of the restaurant's signature dishes using Great Eastern Mussels. Mussels are so popular at Belgo that they make up 50% of the restaurant's total food cost.