On the Hunt for the Perfect Easter Treat - Adding Mussel to the Festivities

CHARLOTTETOWN, March 30 /PRNewswire/ - Make Easter a festive spring affair by serving up a marine treat for the whole family. A fresh and healthy seafood option, fresh blue cultivated mussels are easy to find and prepare and lend itself especially well to the celebrations and sharing of the Easter season.

"Fresh Blue Cultivated Mussels are a nutritious, simple and affordable alternative to the traditional Easter meal," says Linda Duncan, Executive Director of the Mussel Industry Council. "They are rich in nutrients and ideal for entertaining and sharing with the whole family."

Spring has arrived, and there is no better way to celebrate the return of the warm sun than to eat fresh foods, either at home or at the restaurant. "Fresh blue cultivated mussels are cultured year-round, which means that they are always in season. Enhance their freshness by using Fresh Blue Cultivated Mussels as part of light, delicious recipes such as Mussel, potato, paprika and mint salad or the kid-friendly Crispy Blue Mussels," suggests Council President, Brian Fortune.

A guilt-free treat, mussels are low in fat (2.2 g fat per 100 g mussel meat), high in Omega 3s, loads of protein and packed with high levels of daily requirements for zinc, vitamin C and iron. They are also recognized world-wide as sustainable seafood since they feed naturally with no additives and their seed is also collected naturally from the environment where they are grown.

Plus, the left-over shells can make for interesting decorating projects with the kids. It is said that voters in Ancient Greece used empty mussel shells as ballots during elections. For a modern, more festive twist on this crafty idea, try decorating clean mussel shells with pastel-coloured paint and ribbon - they can make handy place cards or a colourful centerpiece.

The Mussel Industry Council wishes everyone a Happy Easter and looks forward to seeing mussels become part of your spring festivities.

About the Mussel Industry Council

The Mussel Industry Council is a newly-established organization dedicated to promoting mussels in the United States and Canada. The Council represents processors from the four Atlantic provinces and Quebec, including AquaPrime Mussel Ranch Ltd., Atlantic Aqua Farms Partnership, Badger Bay Mussel Farms, Confederation Cove Mussels Co. Ltd., Country Harbour Sea Farms Ltd., L&C Fisheries/Green Gables Mussels, Indian Point Marine Farms Ltd., Norlantic Processors, Prince Edward Aqua Farms Inc., Tracadie Bay Aqua Farms Inc. To discover more about mussels and the people who grow them, visit www.discovermussels.com.

SOURCE MUSSEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL