The Minterbrook Story
Meet Minterbrook
Our Mission
For nearly 100 years, Minterbrook Oyster Company has provided some of the freshest, most sought-after shellfish in the world — grown and harvested by hand on the shores of Puget Sound, shipped to markets across the globe, and served in some of the finest restaurants in the world.
A Quick History
Minterbrook Oyster Company is deeply rooted in family and community. The Secor family started Minterbrook in 1932. In 1954 the Wiksten family purchased and ran the company for the next 58 years. In 2012 the Kingman family purchased Minterbrook and continued developing the company into the highly respected shellfish supplier it is today.
1932
The Secor family founds Minterbrook
1954
The Wiksten family takes the helm for 58 years
2012
The Kingman family carries it forward
Meet the Kingmans
Kent and Donna, married in 1993, decided they wanted to settle into a community and teach their children the value and satisfaction of a hard work ethic. The Kingmans have called the Key Peninsula home since 1996. Once Garrett and Austin reached high school, Kent and Donna looked for a company close to home to purchase, so they could spend more time with the kids and watch the boys' basketball careers.
Garrett and Austin loved eating clams from a young age, so the family began growing them on the beach in front of their home. Kent and the boys would harvest on Fridays after school, clean and sort them the next morning, and take them to Minterbrook to sell. One Saturday morning the Wikstens approached them, expressing interest in selling to a locally rooted family. Minterbrook has since transformed into one of the most sought-after boutique shellfish farms in the Pacific Northwest.
Our Philosophy
What We Stand For
Stewards of the Land
We treat these tidelands as a gift — one we are privileged to care for, improve, and pass forward in better condition than we found them.
Only the Best for Our Customers
Every decision we make, from how we plant to how we harvest and ship, is made with one standard in mind: the best possible shellfish, every time.
Commitment to Community
Minterbrook loves existing within a community. From our neighbors on the water to the schools and tribes we partner with, we believe business done right is business that gives back.
Continuous Innovation
The present and the past do not equal the future. We are naturally curious, continuously investing in new technology, research, and forward-thinking methods to raise exceptionally healthy, natural shellfish in the most sustainable way.
Community
Youth Educational Opportunities
Minterbrook has long believed that connecting young people to where their food comes from is one of the most valuable things we can offer.
- School field trips for local and Tacoma inner-city schools
- University of Washington and University of Puget Sound biology classes
- Community farm tours — formal and informal, families welcome
- Peninsula School District special-needs work program (since 2012); one participant is now near full-time after five years
- Student work days: hands-on experience with the tides and the trade
Tribal Partnerships
Minterbrook has developed meaningful, long-term relationships with the native tribes of the South Puget Sound region.
- Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe — since 2016, collaborating on hatchery and nursery seed production, including their Hawaii hatchery operations
- Puyallup Tribe — supplying traditional food sources (clams and oysters) for funerals and cultural events over the last two years
Neighbors & Community Giving
- Peninsula High School — sponsorships and involvement in basketball, football, choir, and musical theatre programs
- Youth "Learn to Work" programs that teach a hard work ethic to the next generation
- Donations and presentations for many local charity organizations
We'd Love To Hear From You
Get In Touch
Whether you're a restaurant, a distributor, or a neighbor after a sack of oysters, send us a note and we'll get back to you.
- Phone
- 253-857-5251
- Retail Shop
- 12002 114th Street Court, Gig Harbor, WA 98329