“Fall” in Love with Seafood: Celebrating National Seafood Month in Virginia

October is National Seafood Month, and here in Hampton, Virginia, we think there’s no better city to celebrate. Since 1610 settlers have used Hampton Creek as a vital food source for oystering and fishing. During the late 19th-century Hampton became a global capital of blue crab and oyster production earing the name "Crabtown" USA. 

Sitting at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, seafood isn’t simply something we eat—it’s part of our history, our working waterfront and the way generations of families have made their living. From Chesapeake Bay blue crabs and local oysters to seasonal fish, scallops, shrimp and more, Virginia has a seafood story worth telling.

So this October, we’re inviting you to “Fall” in Love with Seafood.

And yes, we fully intend to shell-ebrate all month long.

A Month to Know Your Seafood

Throughout National Seafood Month, we’ll be highlighting more than what’s in the seafood case. We want to talk about where your seafood comes from, how to prepare it and why adding more seafood to your table can be a great choice for your family.

We’ll introduce you to different species available in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, share simple ways to cook seafood at home, explore its nutritional benefits and take a closer look at the people and traditions behind our local seafood industry.

Think of it as Seafood 101—just with fewer pop quizzes and considerably more butter.

And, of course, we’ll be talking about our specialty: Chesapeake Bay blue crab.

We may be a little shellfish about that one.

Blue Crab Country Starts Here

Maryland may have built quite a reputation around the blue crab, but down here at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia has its own blue crab story to tell.

The lower Bay and its surrounding rivers, creeks and estuaries are incredibly important blue crab habitat. Female blue crabs tend to remain in the saltier waters of the lower Chesapeake, while many males migrate farther up the Bay into less-salty water.

So when you talk about Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, Virginia isn't on the sidelines of the story. We're right where the Bay begins. Virginia is where the iconic Chesapeake Bay blue crab is born!

This month, we’ll dig deeper into blue crabs—from their life cycle and migrations to what makes a heavy, rusty-shelled crab so special.

We’re also going to tackle one of our favorite crab misconceptions: bigger doesn't always mean better.

We know. Size gets all the attention.

But when it comes to a good crab, fullness, season, condition and where that crab is in its molt cycle all matter. A heavy, full medium crab can be a whole lot more satisfying than a big crab that recently shed.

There's More in the Bay Than Crabs

We love our blue crabs. That probably isn't breaking news. We're four generations of industry and expertise. 

But Virginia seafood has a lot more to offer.

October is a great time to explore the seafood case and try something different. We'll be talking about seasonal Virginia and regional seafood, sharing cooking ideas and helping take some of the mystery out of buying fresh fish and shellfish.

We'll also have a few perfectly good excuses to eat seafood along the way.

October 2 is National Fried Scallops Day.
As if fried scallops needed a holiday.

October 8 is National Salmon Day.
We'll try not to swim upstream with too many salmon puns.

October 19 is National Seafood Bisque Day.
Soup season and seafood season finally decided to get along.

Seafood doesn't have to be complicated, either. Sometimes dinner really can be as simple as a fresh piece of fish, a hot skillet and a few ingredients you already have at home. These perfectly browned restaurant scallops aren't as difficult as they seem, it just takes a few minutes and some high quality dry scallops. 

Seafood Is Good Food

National Seafood Month is also a good reminder that seafood isn't just delicious—it can be a great addition to the dinner table.

Fish and shellfish can provide high-quality protein along with important nutrients, and many varieties of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Throughout October, we'll take a closer look at the nutritional side of different seafood choices and offer easy ideas for working more seafood into everyday meals.

Because “eat more seafood” is one piece of health advice we're particularly happy to follow.

Come “Fall” in Love with Seafood

Whether you've been cracking blue crabs your entire life or you're standing at the seafood counter wondering what fish to try for the first time, this month is for you.

Follow along throughout October as we celebrate the catch, the watermen, the cooks, the traditions and the incredible variety that comes from our waters.

We'll teach a little. Cook a little. Crack a lot of crabs. And we'll probably make entirely too many seafood puns along the way.

No need to mullet over.

Stop by The Hampton Seafood Market & restaurant and see what's fresh, ask us questions and try something new.

After all, Virginia is for (Seafood) Lovers.

This October, we think it's the perfect time to “Fall” in Love with Seafood.

Come hungry. We'll sea you soon.