Lowcountry Cups: A day in the life of an Oyster Farmer

A Day in the Life of an Oyster Farmer

Days like this serve as a great reminder of why we build awesome gear in the first place.

We spent a long day on the water with the crew at Lowcountry Oyster Company, following founder Trey McMillan—better known as “Cricket”—as he moved through another workday on his farm in Green Pond, South Carolina.

Lowcountry Oyster Company operates the largest oyster farm in the state. With floating cages anchored in the ACE Basin—a 350,000-acre protected wetland formed by the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto Rivers. It’s a special place. 

Tides swings are big, conditions change constantly, and no gear lasts long if it isn’t built right. 

Most of the boats, cages, and processing equipment we saw weren’t ordered from a catalog. They were welded or built on site. Most equipment was custom built or the crew here has gotten creative in repurposing tools for their job at hand. For example, Cricket even pointed out that he uses an agricultural-grade potato sorter to size and sort oysters. Because it’s reliable. Because it gets the job done. Generic pieces of farm equipment just wouldn't cut it out there. In the salt, a custom solution was required

That same thinking extends to the gear he wears every day.

Seeing the Work More Clearly

Out on the water, on the farm, visibility isn’t a luxury—it’s a requirement. Reading tide lines and seeing subtle changes in bottom color and the conditions of the cages all matter.  Cricket wears Cordina 10 Wts with Polarized Green Mirrored Glass lenses when he's hard at work.

Not just because they look good on him mug—but because they let him get his job done.

The green mirror cuts surface glare while preserving contrast, making it easier to pick out what’s happening below the surface. In an environment where light is constantly bouncing off water, cages, and hulls, clarity matters. When you’re working long hours on open water, your eyes take a beating. Gear that reduces fatigue isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Cricket didn’t talk about lens tech. He didn’t talk about features. He just kept working.

And that’s kind of the point. 

Trusted Gear, Earned Over Time

Lowcountry Oyster Company’s flagship product, the Lowcountry Cup, is one of the most sought-after oysters in the region—clean, balanced, and shaped the ACE Basin. It’s the result of patience, attention, and a willingness to do things the hard way if it means doing them right.

Cordina Eyewear fits into that system the same way his welded cages and repurposed machinery do: trusted tools, proven by use and backed by the people who make them. All Cordina sunglasses come with a Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty. 

Watching Cricket and his crew work was a reminder in why we do what we do. Our customers need glasses that can be worn all day, hold up under pressure, and look good while they do their job.

We are proud to be a part of the hard work that Cricket and the folks at Lowcountry Oyster Company do day in day out to keep food on our tables!