If we have any hope of a thriving planet—much less a business—it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have. This is what we can do.
Our mussels are raised in the protected bays along the of coast of Galicia, in northern Spain, and in the pristine waters off the southern tip of Portugal. Because they're grown in thick clusters on ropes suspended from rafts or strung between buoys, they form a kind of underwater forest that provides habitat for other ocean creatures, boosting biodiversity. As filter feeders, they also naturally improve water quality around them as they grow.
Mussels are also every bit as nutritious as large fin fish. They're packed with complete protein and contain all nine essential amino acids, plus iron. Their levels of vitamin B-12, which helps keep red blood cells healthy, are off the chart-a serving provides as much as 1130% of the daily value of this vitamin.*
There's also a cultural story here. In Spain, the family farmers who grow our mussels have worked their rafts for generations, preserving a way of life that revolves around the sea. In Portugal, our farm partners give workers from North Africa a path to EU citizenship, opening up their opportunities. A regional family-owned cannery steams, seasons and packs the freshly harvested mussels from both countries for us, turning them into conservas, the premium tinned fish that Spain is famous for. When you buy our mussels, you're supporting the future of people and place.
*See each mussel's product page for nutrition information about cholesterol and sodium content.
Types of Patagonia Provisions Mussels
Our plump, savory tinned mussels are seasoned three different ways, using recipes created especially for us by our cannery partners in Spain.
Lemon Herb Mussels: a bright, tangy mixture of Mediterranean thyme and lemon
Smoked Mussels: lightly smoked over aromatic bay wood and seasoned with olive oil and salt
Spicy Mussels: Chiles, tangy cider vinegar, and ripe, sweet red bell peppers (inspired by the vinegar-spiked seafood escabeches of Spain)
Our mussels are fully cooked and shelf stable, so they're great as a snack in the backcountry or pulled from your kitchen cupboard for a fast meal at home. All three flavors are packed in extra-virgin olive oil and flavorful mussel broth. Add those juices to a sauce or salad dressing, just don't let them go to waste.
Ways to Eat Our Mussels
We love eating mussels straight from the can with crusty bread to soak up the juices, the way conservas are eaten in Spain and Portugal.
When it comes to responsible seafood, mussels are high on the list. Ours come from Spain's first EU-certified organic operation, a leader in protecting and preserving ocean health, and from the first ASC-certified mussel operation in Portugal-and all of continental Europe. Mussels help restore rather than deplete their ecosystem, and they support our company's mission to save our home planet.
*See each mussel's product page for nutrition information about cholesterol and sodium content.
