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Home / Washington Business - March 2006 / Community Profile - Raymond: Bounty from the Sea |
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Community Profile - Raymond: Bounty from the Sea |
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Written On: March 2006 |
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Written By: by Shawn Sullivan |
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Unlike the vast expanse of agricultural producing lands of eastern Washington, the crops grown in the Willapa Bay area do not need large quantities of top soil or fertilizer. The crops do not need an abundance of sunshine to grow, nor do they need high fences to keep wild animals out of the farm. What the farmers do need for their crops are boats, dredges and mucking boots—all necessities for oyster farming.
Taylor Shellfish Farms, one of the largest oyster farmers in Raymond, entered the market eight years ago when it purchased several beds from Weigert Brothers. "We entered the Raymond market because we knew it was one of the best areas for oyster production," Taylor Shellfish Farms President Bill Taylor said. "The farms in Raymond yield between 15 and 20 million oysters each year, which are then shipped to places around the world."
Oyster farming almost became extinct through over-harvesting in the late 1910s, but the transition to using Japanese oysters saved the industry. "We started using Japanese oysters in the late 1920s because of how well they reproduce," Taylor said. Current oyster farms take up more than 10,000 shoreline acres across Willapa Bay.
Oyster harvesting takes place when they are approximately three years old and at all times throughout the year. "Most farmers use a natural production cycle at the three week stage when larvae attach themselves to recycled shells," Taylor said. "After the larvae attach themselves, we move the oysters into a bed where the tide travels 12 vertical feet—the best height to grow oysters."
The continued success of the oyster farms relies on its ability to transition with demand. "Recently, the demand for shucked oysters has declined, while the demand for live oysters has increased dramatically," Taylor said. Shucking is the process in which the farmers remove the meat from the shell and flash freeze it prior to shipping.
Raymond is so immersed with the industry that even the local Dairy Queen has an oyster burger on the menu.
Raymond also relies on the timber industry as a source of revenue and jobs. Two larger lumber mills operate within the city limits. Weyerhaeuser operates one of its larger timber mills in Raymond, while Seaport Lumber processes alder trees less than a mile away. "The mills used to load timber onto large ships until the state stopped dredging the bar," Raymond Mayor Bob Jungar said. "Both mills were put into the position of adapting to stay alive, and both are still running today."
Raymond's attempt to create an image for itself became the inspiration of several towns across the state. "We contacted a local artist, and he created hundreds of steel statues for us to spread around town," Jungar said. "Other cities tried to duplicate it, but so far no one has come close to matching us."
With so much water surrounding the town, city officials have instituted mandatory swimming lessons for every fourth grader. "Our goal is to give every child graduating our high school the ability to swim," Jungar said. The local school holds the swimming classes at the public pool located in the center of town.
Despite the growing industries, Raymond's population remained stagnant until recently when Washington's housing boom filtered its way into the city. "We recently opened our fifth bank," Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce President Carol Halsan said. "Why would they build five banks in such a small community unless the banks see a lot of people relocating here?"
Most of the people relocating to Raymond are retirees looking for a relaxed atmosphere. "We are setting up to be a retirement community," Halsan said. "Raymond is full of so much beauty that we are enticing several baby boomers."
One of the reasons for recent growth in the region comes from the availability of existing structures. "We may have 3,000 people, but our infrastructure was built to handle more than 6,000," Jungar said. "High-speed Internet is available because we ran fiber-optic cable throughout town, and we have several people in city government willing to work with developers wishing to relocate."
City officials have tried everything from exempting relocating companies from all future impact fees to the abolition of the city's business and occupation tax to draw businesses into the city. "While it is tempting to place fees and such on a developer when he is moving in, we realize how much revenue the developer will generate in the long term," Jungar said. "In a community like ours, how often do you get the opportunity to entice a company that will employ several hundred people?"
Another aspect of Raymond that may entice employers is the addition of a Gray Harbor College satellite campus. "The local college is ready and willing to develop training programs specific to area businesses," Jungar said. Grays Harbor's willingness to adapt may hold the key to the future of an employer's success.
Being friendly to business is a significant piece to Raymond, but activities available after work hours has just as much draw. "We also have one of the best golf courses in the entire state," Jungar said. "It is such a well-kept secret that there is literally no waiting time on the tee." The nine-hole course is located near several self-guided walking tours that traverse through the base of the Olympic Mountains to the hundreds of miles of shore on the harbor.
With several miles of saltwater or freshwater to choose from, there is plenty of room for private kayaking, fishing and boating excursions. "Some of the best kayaking in the entire Pacific Northwest is in Raymond," Jungar said. "The sport is growing so fast we have a kayak rental shop on the way."
Bird watching has become another fast-growing trend in Raymond thanks to Audubon Washington's The Great Washington State Birding Trail. Two of the largest sections of the trail center within the city limits of Raymond, which brings thousands of visitors through the city each year.
Raymond's laid-back environment may be just what the doctor ordered for people wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Puget Sound. "I just enjoy relaxing here," Jungar said. "I can't help but think to myself—I used to go on vacation to do this."
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