Where could be better for escargots than the rainy Olympic Peninsula?
Although many first think of France when they think of snails, Washington state’s rainy Olympic Peninsula is prime real estate for these moisture loving gastropods.
Located on five acres at the base of the eastern slopes of the Olympic Mountains in Quilcene, Little Gray Farms Escargots is run by Ric Brewer with more than 20 years of experience in snail conservation, captive breeding programs, and heliciculture (raising snails for consumption).
Little Gray Farms Escargots operates an approved USDA facility.
Olympic peninsula
Quilcene with view toward Mt. Walker, Olympic Peninsula, Washington state
ORDERING INFO
Hello, ESCARGOT lovers! we are closed this year as we explore snail farms in europe and other locales. sorry for any inconvenience. our consultation services are still available. See below for details and to schedule an appointment.
Snail raising consultations
Interested in raising snails?
Humans have raised snails for millennia, called heliciculture. An established industry in Europe, the art and science of raising snails is new to North America. This initial consultation provides you with a basic background to get you started on the path to raising your own snails, whether for a business or a hobby.
The consultation includes:
Overview of current U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations
Introduction to the best snail species used in heliciculture
Basics on snail husbandry and anatomy (reproduction, diet, etc.)
Farm/facility set-up
Processing, packaging, storage, marketing, and value-added products
Copy of the presentation for your reference
The one-hour call outlines all the aspects listed Above.
Please contact us via the form below for more information and to arrange your consultation. consultations are conducted via phone or zoom.
“The consultation was definitely a pleasure and very informative! Thank you for the access to all this great material. I'm really glad we did that and I'm thankful to have you as a resource!’
—Shelly M.
“Ric is the Obi-Wan Kenobi of snails!”
—Bryan N.
Many people are familiar with the type of escargots served in many restaurants. More often than not, they are canned and shipped to the U.S. and Canada from Eastern Europe, Asia, or North Africa. The taste, meh, the texture, yuck! We knew that snails could be delicious. But the secret was them being fresh, not canned and shipped thousands of miles across the ocean.
To that end, we created Little Gray Farms Escargots/Hail the Snail in order to promote the farming of fresh snails here in the United States. Our name refers to the species of snail we grow—the delicious (and charming!) petit-gris—translated as “little gray”— variety. Although smaller in size that the canned gros-gris snails, these little grays have an earthy, rich umami, their texture is almost buttery, akin to a butter clam. No more rubbery, metal-tasting canned snails.
The famed petit-gris, or little gray snail.
