The first annual Shrimp Harvest occurred at The Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm on Saturday, September 13, 2008. While the weather conditions were not as favorable as we would have preferred, our harvesters were very successful in helping to net over 700 pounds of Malaysian tiger prawns from approximately 500,000 gallons of fresh water in the three-quarter acre pond.

As customers arrived to pick up their orders, they were able to see the process in which the shrimp were harvested. Once they were netted, the shrimp were washed and put on ice before being weighed and packaged. Orders for shrimp were taken online from the Web site nearly three months in advance. Pre-paid orders were filled first and new orders were filled as the supply allowed.

The shrimp unfortunately varied in size this year from very small to very large; however, we were able to learn a great deal from our first year in raising fresh water shrimp. Next year we look forward to having more, as well as larger, shrimp to offer to our customers.

Thank you to all of our staff, advisers and customers. We couldn’t have been successful with our first harvest without you!

We look forward to next summer!!!

Duke & Martha Wheeler