New Zealand Greenshell™ mussels provide a wealth of nutritional benefits including:

• low in fat and a great source of protein, iron and essential fatty acids
• rich in many vitamins (especially the B complex group)
• rich in a broad range of minerals and trace elements

Mussels can be sold in many different product forms including:

• Frozen (about 80% of the harvest) - frozen half-shell, frozen whole shell, frozen meat
• Fresh live - New Zealand and export consumption
• Processed - vacuum packed, in sauces and marinades, smoked, and more

Mussel Farming

A mussel farm consists of a series of buoys held together by long lines that are anchored to the seafloor at each end. A series of weighted ropes, on which the mussels are grown, hang down from these lines. Farmed mussels grow to around 10-15 cm long and are usually harvested after 14 to 18 months. When they reach a desired size, the rope is lifted and the mussels are stripped from it. Harvested mussels are sold as a fresh shellfish to local and export markets, or are processed into value-added products.

Greenshell™ mussel farming is sustainable because:

• Nothing is added to the water
• No chemicals or antibiotics are used
• The ecological effects are limited and often positive
• Mussels effectively clean the water they filter feed from
• The industry runs its own world first Environmental Management System
• The industry meets a number of environmental monitoring requirements in order to farm in coastal water