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, snail lovers! We are closed for winter to give the snails a little break! we’ll return for orders in mid-may 2024.
Pricing:
$34.00/half-pound of meat-only
$68.00/pound of meat-only
Snails are parboiled and vacuum packed (meat-only). Each half pound of meat is approximately 60-65 snails.
Orders are shipped overnight. No P.O. boxes, please.
TO ORDER:
Provide your contact and how much product you would like. You will be contacted concerning timing and pricing of your order including overnight shipping price. Each order is individually prepared.
* Please note: It is against federal regulations to ship live snails. So please don’t ask!
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. 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, our little grays have an earthy, rich umami—a hint of the terroir of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula where they are raised. Their texture is almost buttery, akin to a butter clam. No rubbery, metal-tasting canned snails for us.
The famed petit-gris, or little gray snail.
