Mike Manyak
Farmer & Founder
Mike founded Sapidus Farms, We Raise “Happy Oysters” in 2009 with a few oysters off of the dock. He currently cares for over a million Happy Oysters from the time they are eyed larvae until he delivers them to restaurants and retail consumers. Sapidus Farms is HACCP certified, and Mike has developed his own best management practices for safe handling in order to ensure the highest quality live in shell oyster. Mike shucks his oysters at a variety of events and uses these opportunities to keep an eye on quality control, while educating consumers on the benefits of farm raised shellfish. This farm to table approach has solidified the Happy Oysters' reputation as the highest quality oyster the Chesapeake has to offer.
Previous to becoming an Oyster Farmer, Mike graduated from River Hill High School in Howard County Maryland, earned a BA in Political Science from University of Maryland College Park and a MA in Teaching from Towson State University, and worked as a social studies teacher in Calvert County, Maryland. He uses his love of teaching to make aquaculture attainable to patrons, visitors and our team.
Angelina Manyak
Farmer & Partner
Angelina started at Sapidus Farms back in 2014 a day after her wedding to “Oyster Mike”. While she always expected to be waterfront for her honeymoon, she did not quite anticipate wearing slicks and muck boots. Luckily she has always been partial to the smell of the salt water and she has found that muck boots are quite comfortable.
Angelina followed her love of water to The Madeira School off of the Potomac River, UNCW next to Wrightsville Beach, and eventually found herself land locked at University of Maryland College Park where she graduated with a BA in English. She has spent the past few years behind the scenes at Sapidus Farms, and is excited to make the farm her primary focus as of 2019. She spends most of her time in the nursery, but sometimes gets pulled away to sort oysters for your orders.