Peer to Pier Program
Peer to Pier is Oyster South’s mentorship program that pairs new and emerging oyster farmers with experienced growers, giving them hands-on training, industry insight, and a supportive community to help their farms succeed.
Peer to Pier connects beginning oyster farmers with seasoned mentors throughout the Southeast and Gulf Coast, offering real-world learning that can’t be found in manuals or classrooms. The purpose of this fellowship was supported originally by an award from the National Sea Grant Program and contributions from Oyster South’s annual fundraiser, LANDLOCKED.
The P2P program defrays travel expenses for farmer and chef applicants to travel to other farms to observe and study the farming techniques of their peers. Peer to Pier will continue once again in 2024 and 2025 with generous additional funding from the National Sea Grant Program and will be managed by Georgia Sea Grant.
This program not only strengthens the network between southern oyster farms and chefs and farms around the country, but it strengthens relationships and improves our industry nationally at a time when we need it most. We want to encourage our farmer and chef members to get first hand oyster farm knowledge they can take back to their respective farms and restaurants.
We accept applications all year round for Peer to Pier.
Submit your application today, but don’t stress the details!
Application Information
To apply, applicants must submit a brief application according to the guidelines detailed in the next section.
The next review date for P2P will be March 1st; or until the funds are expended (whichever comes first). Applicants will be notified within two weeks of the review date. Awardee funds will be sent as a lump-sum honorarium after the travel is completed and receipts and report provided.
Who is Eligible?
Peer to Pier is designed for new and emerging oyster farmers in the Southeast and Gulf Coast who are actively farming or preparing to launch a farm. Applicants should have a clear interest in building a long-term aquaculture business and be committed to participating fully in mentorship activities. No prior formal training is required.
Applicant must be a current member of Oyster South and formally engaged in business already;
The applicant should clearly indicate the conference, show and/or farm/business visits proposed, with locations and dates noted;
The applicant should fill out the application above with at least one written paragraph explaining what he/she hopes to learn from the proposed event and/or site visit and how the information will be used to improve his/her own business;
The applicant should provide at least one written paragraph indicating how the applicant will share the new information with his/her local colleagues (e.g., agreeing to share photos, delivering a presentation, contributing to an industry newsletter); and
The applicant must agree to answer follow-up questions about the effectiveness of the learning experience in order to allow assessment of the effectiveness of this program.
What Participants Receive
Participants gain hands-on training with experienced growers, practical problem-solving skills, exposure to different farming systems, and guidance tailored to their specific site and challenges. Beyond technical knowledge, they join a supportive regional network—building confidence, connections, and a clearer path toward running a resilient, successful oyster farm.
Past Peer to Pier Mentorships
Explore stories from farmers and partners who’ve taken part in our programs and helped shape the Southern oyster community.
