Raspberry Point Oyster Company requests zoning change in Cavendish

Raspberry Point Oyster Company Inc. has asked the Cavendish Resort Municipality for a zoning change to allow the company to provide a more interactive shellfish experience.

The company owns two properties in the resort municipality where it lands and processes oysters.

The promotion of our oyster industry on P.E.I. is important. P.E.I is working on becoming a culinary destination with the creation of groups like the Food Island Partnership.- James Power

Raspberry Point wants the properties to be rezoned from commercial to resort commercial for future expansion plans. 

Cavendish Resort Municipality chair Matthew Jelley says the company wants to expand by adding educational and interpretive activities on site, along with retail sales.

Manager James Power said Raspberry Point wants to help promote the Island's oyster industry and market it as a culinary destination.

"Raspberry Point is working to provide consumers and visitors with a more welcoming and informative site. Consumers are looking for the story behind their food and meet the people who make it," said Power. 

Power says the company is scheduling bus tours in 2016, with future plans to have a retail outlet and do more tours with visitors.

"For a business that's in the food industry industry, and being based in the number one tourism destination on Prince Edward Island, anything they can do to improve their site and make it more welcoming and add more activities for people to do, both visitors and residents alike, it's certainly something that aligns with the strategies for the development of tourism in the resort municipality," said Jelley.

The public meeting on the proposal to rezone the property will be held Monday, Jan.18. It could come up for a vote at the municipal council meeting in February.