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ORAL HISTORY

Veeral & Vishal Padalia

Forgotten Bay Oysters

Brothers Veeral and Vishal were born in 1980 and 1983 respectively. They were raised in Tallahassee, Florida.  Their parents weren’t involved in the sport hunting or outdoor activities, but Veeral and Vishal loved to be outdoors. They grew up hunting and fishing, taught by neighbors or friends’ parents.

Veeral attended the University of Florida and Vishal attended Florida State University. Both spent time in medical school, but ultimately, they returned to Leon County and went into business together. Their desire to be outside drove them to pursue a career on the water. The Padalia brothers began farming oysters in 2019. They had a difficult time buying oyster spat their first year. In 2020, they finally obtained oyster seed and planted them in bags on their leases in Skipper Bay. The brothers taught themselves how to farm oysters through personal research, their experience on the water, and the relationships they have built with other farmers in Spring Creek. They market and sell their oysters as Forgotten Bay Oysters.