The Netarts Bay Sanctuary
Tucked along a remote curve of the northern Oregon Coast, Netarts Bay is one of the cleanest and most ecologically pristine salt-water estuaries in North America. Fed by cold Pacific swells and pristine mountain runoff, the bay is renowned for hosting thriving native oyster nurseries. Oysters are nature's ultimate water purifiers, continuously filtering the seawater before it reaches our intake pipes.
The Genesis of Cascadia Saltworks
For over a century, American culinary salt was dominated by industrial mined rock salts stripped of trace minerals and heavily treated with synthetic chemical flow agents. In 2011, we set out to prove that America’s Pacific coast could yield finishing salt rivaling the historic fleur de sel of Brittany and the pyramid flakes of Maldon.
We began by collecting seawater in five-gallon carboys, boiling brine over open wood fires, and meticulously studying how water temperature, pan depth, and humidity affect crystal geometry. Today, our custom-built evaporation pans produce delicate, hollow pyramid flakes with a clean, brisk mineral finish that enhances flavors rather than overwhelming them.
Slow-Pan Evaporation: The Physics of the Flake
Unlike industrial salt dried instantly in high-heat vacuum kilns, our brine is warmed slowly over several days. As the water evaporates gently, microscopic crystals coalesce on the surface tension of the brine. They grow laterally into razor-thin, stepped pyramid structures before sinking to the pan bottom.
Our team hand-rakes these fragile pyramids onto cedar drying racks with wooden spades. This artisanal restraint preserves the delicate structural crunch that melts cleanly on the palate.
Commitment to Ocean Stewardship & Purity
We believe that great food begins with healthy marine ecosystems. Cascadia Saltworks operates with a near-zero waste ethos:
- 100% Microplastic-Free: Multi-stage sand and carbon micro-filtration removes all synthetic contaminants down to the sub-micron level.
- Plastic-Free Packaging: Our jars use recyclable glass, real cork closures, and post-consumer kraft paperboard boxes printed with vegetable inks.
- Coastal Conservation: A portion of every harvest box sold supports the Oregon Ocean Sanctuary and local estuary habitat restoration projects.