What is Virginia Trout Collective?
Virginia Trout Collective is a tight-knit group of farms dedicated to producing fish responsibly in the clear, cold waters of the Appalachian region. Sourced with care from spring-fed hatcheries and harvested with integrity, our fish are as close to wild as it gets - and you can taste the difference.
From day one, it has been a goal of ours to put trout from mountainous regions on menus and back on people’s plates. This is an extension of the realization of that goal.
Trout has long been a local staple in Appalachia, but over the years, it has gained an undeserved reputation due to mass production and poor handling practices. With the Virginia Trout Collective as an umbrella, we are able to work with other spring-raised farms in our region that share our values, collectively restoring trout's good name.
This is a collective of like-minded trout farmers that I have personally fostered over the last 7 years. We’re proud to be a part of Appalachia, and we want to see people eating local fresh water trout again!
Principles of Virginia Trout Collective Partners
Spring-Raised
All of the farms we partner with operate a spring-fed system, which relies on fresh mountain spring water to supply their ponds and raceways.
Trout are 80% water, meaning that access to lots of fresh, clean and cold water is critical for a healthy trout.
Outdoor Facilities
Raising trout in the open outdoors is a non-negotiable for us. Access to fresh air and sun contributes to a healthier ecosystem and, therefore, healthier fish.
The trout get access to aquatic insects that find habitat at the bottom of the ponds, as well as eat the bugs that land on the surface of the water. They also have access to Vitamin D from the sun.
Low stocking densities
We closely monitor the oxygen levels of our ponds and raceways to ensure the fish have more than sufficient dissolved oxygen to support the number of fish. If the DO drops below a certain threshold, we strategically move fish to ensure they are not stressed.
Because of the lower stocking densities, we do not have any need for antibiotics or chemicals to the fish or ponds.