center of business and social activity, a geoduck can sell for
more than $200 during peak season. The recent trade war has
hurt prices some, but the Xias say they're more concerned
about any offense taken by their customers.
"Agriculture is fundamental for a country," says Hui. "Every
country has their own way of protecting their agriculture.
My husband always believes that it's better to be in the ag
industry than the service industry because we are producing
things people need. Henry always wanted to be a farm boy, if
farming would make a living. So, we decided to go for it. And
now we're very proud to be Chinese American farmers."
million-dollar views off the Olympic Peninsula. Today they
lease 18 different tidelands where geoduck "squirts" are quite
the attraction.
To expand their small business further, the Xias needed
conventional financing. Fortunately, they found a lender
who knows the seafood business. "I was surprised when
we contacted Northwest Farm Credit," says Hui. "They
knew quite a bit about geoduck farming, which is very rare.
They even knew the price, which surprised me. They did
their homework and they understood the challenges. We
feel respected and they are very caring people."
"I get excited working with entrepreneurs like Henry and
Hui," says Northwest FCS Relationship Manager Jess
Sarsfield. "They are focused and passionate about farming
and the products they produce. When Hui and Henry came to
us, they were already growing geoducks. Henry was perfect-
ing his process and had some of the lowest mortality rates in
the business. The permits they had, and the short amount of
time it took Hui to get them, spoke volumes about their
management skills."
Today, the Xias export all their product to China through
wholesalers and private contacts. Domestically, a two-pound
clam costs about $70. In China, where restaurants are the
Henry shows a two-year old geoduck to
Northwest FCS Relationship Manager Jess
Sarsfield. Jess Sarsfield is a certified dive
instructor with experience working on
dive boats in the Red Sea.
summer 2019 8
