Matunuck Oyster Farm in Rhode Island: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Matunuck Oyster Farm on Potter Pond in East Matunuck, Rhode Island, was founded in 2002 by Perry Raso and was a finalist for the inaugural New England Leopold Conservation Award in 2019. It sells oysters nationally and supplies its own restaurant, Matunuck Oyster Bar, and a nearby vegetable farm. It is a leading Rhode Island example of aquaculture as agriculture.
| Location | Potter Pond, East Matunuck, South Kingstown, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 by Perry Raso |
| Sectors | Oyster aquaculture; shellfish hatchery; vegetables; restaurant |
| Scale | A seven-acre commercial lease on Potter Pond, per a 2019 finalist profile |
| Why it is elite | Inaugural New England Leopold Conservation Award finalist (2019); nationally shipped oysters |
| Ownership | Perry Raso |
| Official website | Matunuck Oyster Farm and Oyster Bar website |
History of Matunuck Oyster Farm
Perry Raso dug littlenecks in Point Judith Pond at age 12 and later earned bachelor's and master's degrees in aquaculture and fisheries technology at URI. In 2002 he founded Matunuck Oyster Farm, a wading-depth farm on Potter Pond. By 2008 the farm sold oysters nationally.
He bought a pondside restaurant with commercial docks that opened in 2009 as Matunuck Oyster Bar. In 2011 he grew organic vegetables at Matunuck Vegetable Farm, and he is building a shellfish hatchery across from the restaurant.
What Matunuck Oyster Farm Grows and Raises
Oysters are grown in the pond and supplied to the restaurant and to customers around the country. The farm runs oyster farm tours, which the website says it has led since 2002.
A 2019 profile notes oysters filter nitrogen-containing particles from the water, raising oxygen for other organisms, which is why the farm was judged on environmental stewardship.
How Matunuck Oyster Farm Makes Money
Oyster sales
Oysters sold wholesale and through shipments are the base product, supplying customers nationally since 2008.
Restaurant
Matunuck Oyster Bar uses the farm's oysters and produce, so more of the retail margin stays in the business.
Tours and shop
The site lists oyster farm tours and an online shop.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Matunuck Oyster Farm
The first lesson is to control the chain from pond to plate, so the restaurant sells what the farm grows. The second is to invest in your own seed supply through a hatchery.
The third is to teach: tours and public talks built trust and national press.
Few farmers can say their crop gets a cleaner pond because of its own diligent work, and the oysters of Potter Pond do just that. The staff at farm.FM thinks farm satire has no better subject than a crop that never leaves the water. Our farm humor desk, ranch humor desk and farm jokes committee all agree to keep it simple: nice shells, clean water, and no pearl puns allowed.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
How to Contact Matunuck Oyster Farm
Website: https://rhodyoysters.com/about/
Address: 629 Succotash Rd, Wakefield, RI 02879
Phone: 401-783-4202
Contact details as published on the operation's own website, November 2026. Tours and restaurant hours vary; confirm before traveling.
Matunuck Oyster Farm Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- About Perry Raso and the farm - The operation's website
- Leopold award finalist - New England Leopold Conservation Award finalist profile
- Farmers.gov oyster farmer feature - USDA Faces of the Farm profile
- Growing oysters and jobs in Rhode Island - NPR coverage
- USDA NASS Rhode Island 2022 Census profile - State farm counts and sales
Matunuck Oyster Farm FAQ
Where is Matunuck Oyster Farm?
On Potter Pond in East Matunuck, South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
When was it founded?
2002, by Perry Raso.
Was it an award finalist?
Yes, for the inaugural New England Leopold Conservation Award in 2019.
How do I contact it?
Call 401-783-4202 or use the website.
Matunuck Oyster Farm shows how Rhode Island aquaculture can join farm, hatchery and restaurant. For the climate, programs and markets behind it, read our Rhode Island farms guide and the other profiled operations.