Story and Video By Robin Swain
A couple years ago, we noticed big white tubs lining an area at the Port of Garibaldi. Always curious, I inquired, “What’s that?” When we heard that it was a Seaweed Farm, like many other people in our communities, we laughed. We all made our silly little jokes and then kind of forgot about it. But then we noticed, there were more tubs, and then in February an event dedicated to seaweed as it’s become a hot culinary ingredient. The reality is Dulse seaweed is no joke – providing much more than the taste of the sea.
In many countries, seaweed is as normal in the daily diet as French fries are to Westerners. Our love of convenience has us making the quick stop for fast food so we can continue to hurry up with our lives. What we are really hurrying up is obesity, diabetes, heart disease and many other ailments that are totally avoidable with a healthy diet.
The majority of Westerners, wrinkle their nose and say “GROSS”, at the thought of eating seaweed. But some of us will eat kale, (well, I won’t because that is gross tasting.) Charles Toombs, Founder and CEO of Oregon Seaweed explains simply, “Dulse Seaweed tastes like bacon.” Sure, it does Chuck! I seriously thought he was joking with me until I asked a friend if she would pick up a salad like last time. She asked which one and I said the one with bacon bits. She laughed and told me it wasn’t bacon — it’s that Garibaldi seaweed. So, it does have a light bacon flavor. Chuck wasn’t pulling my leg after all. I guess that is why so many local restaurants have incorporated it into their dishes and featured it on their menus. I now have a new culinary treat for my palate.
Oregon seaweed is loaded with vitamins and minerals. “In fact, it holds every essential amino acid, making it a complete protein,” adds Toombs, a former OSU researcher that discovered this particular strain of seaweed. It is also healthy for our environment. It is carbon negative and non-polluting. The only thing Dulse seaweed requires is fresh sea water and sunshine. “For every four pounds of seaweed grown, one pound of carbon is sequestered,” according to Oregon Seaweed’s website. Oregon Seaweed has two farms – Garibaldi and Brookings.
You can find Oregon Seaweed at local stores: Astoria Co-op, Gathered/Astoria, Mess Hall Market/Astoria, FishPeople/Garibaldi, Food Roots Marketplace, Wild Grocery/Manzanita, Buttercup Ice Cream & Chowders/Nehalem, Wild Coast Goods/Nehalem, Local Ocean/Newport. Watch for Oregon Seaweed at Farmers Markets and other events.
Fresh seaweed in New Seasons across Portland, Oregon
All New Seasons across the Portland area are now carrying fresh Garibaldi Dulse. This is the first time that a chain grocery store in the United States has carried fresh seaweed. It can be found in both the produce isle as well as the seafood department and soon to be a ready to eat salad! We hope you enjoy, Portland! Please spread the word, and thanks for helping us make seaweed a familiar and favorite food in our communities.
For more information, locations and culinary recipes visit Oregonseaweed.com