European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Y f rows of Oyster Beds Are visible at Low tide along the coast of Normandy. Of a a a a it it Vav set ,>1eyw.m a a s a 1,1 i j Rev n to morn a plate of oysters baked in various sauces tempt diners at a restaurant in Signy sur Mer by Kevin Dougherty staff writer Iles Tai Lepied watched with amusement As his brother s dog Dalia dashed across the Damp seabed at Low tide. The Worcester terrier darted under and Between Tai Lepied s Oyster Beds Barking and chasing seagulls As the Sun slipped toward the horizon. As Dalia continued his playful ways a Tai Lepied resumed attending to the family s Oyster farm near the town of Signy sur Mer on the Northern coast of France. Tai Lepied fired up an aging tractor and headed for another Row of Oyster Beds. For vacationers interested in a unique travel experience consider visiting one of the dozens of Oyster farms in Normandy that offer Public Tours. Tai Lepied s farm in t one of them but at least 26 others do offer visits Between june 1 and sept. 15, said Michael Buchet of cop Ronor a French Agency that promotes Normandy oysters. Normandy Oyster Farmers produce More of the shelled molluscs than any other Region in France accounting for More than a Quarter of the country s yearly yield Buchet said. The 130,000 tons annually produced by the 3,000 Oyster farms in France ranks fourth in the world behind Korea Japan and the United states. It s a taste of the sea Quot Buchet said. In Normandy there Are three primary Oyster farming regions Signy sur Mer which produces 10,000 tons of oysters Saint Vaast la Hougue 7,000 tons and the West coast of the Manche Peninsula from bar Neville Carteret to Granville 18,000. Tons. Part of the reason Why the area s yield is so great Buchet sail is because of the tides which can vary by As much As 46 feet. The people of Normandy have been harvesting oysters for generations but business has boomed in the last 20 years thanks to the development of Oyster Beds Buchet said. The concept dates Back to 1955 when an Oyster Man named franc e Helie of Saint Vaast la Hougue obtained old Beds from a Hospital in Cherbourg. Helie used the bed frames to elevate o c oysters off the Ocean floor and hold a to in place which allowed them to Matue. Before Helie s invention Oyster Man would wait for Low tide and then a p walk out where the w Ater had re ecu gather the shells off the soft ground. It was several years before Helie perfected die process but when he did the idea screen quickly throughout nor Mandy Rolince one the world. In 1970, the annual Ysleia n Norman a was 1,000 tens Buchet said.  in cart later the Mieure Rose co about 2.t 7x0 co. Oyster and Mussel farming s a Mil Ion a Vear business or he -00 companies in nor Mandy 3ucnet medium Lizs farms like the Tibet nos about 250 Rirs each. Ear. The Price or Oviers an  m the location. Near the sea. Restaurants  offer a plate or Merters or  70 and 90 francs or scout so by ivs Ero on Juir tin  lr5 ant 71d ran co. Corning c Hue re he vhf Sec it. Non Nankiv rat a Irenn. To guaranties the Olsenr  mum Saifur. He govern men tit Sci Virv unit sir us o z7c of Tryr t a jul Urr Al. Mure. Quot Xii t7 itt Quot b re life it "7 dts a of re Quot a Oroff i a i. Ucchet Sale in Haro at Ace Vav hit 2 tour that includes a plate of samples usually six oysters runs about twice As much. Which brings us to the Issue of eating of items. Tor some people the Mere menu or of eating oysters sends their body squirming in disgust. Other lick their lips in Oei int. In France roughly half of the oysters Cim turned Are eaten Between dec. 21 and a. I a i. To Ida treat a Juchet said. U e served acne rav or cooked. Idjo uned that moderation is the a a m. Matte Row Vou  it. Quot bitter lie peo a a too Many oysters a of toe get some a it j Lone people see in because Thev simply a Een to a Sten and done to realize in l. A 7. To in any event you la know within one to two hours after dinner whether oysters agree with you. When eating raw oysters Buchet suggests chewing the delicacy rather than letting it slide into your Mouth and Down the shoot. Quot of you Don t Chew you Don t kill the Oyster and in the stomach there could be an allergic reaction Quot Buchet said. Most people prefer cooked oysters which Are often sea de in a variety of Mouth watering sauces. For the Novice this is the Way to Start. Quot Many times people who done to like raw oysters like cooked oysters Quot Buchet said Quot because it s not the same  Bon appetite. A a 16 the stars and stripes saturday May 21, 1994 the stars and stripes