Today is the deadline to place your order for a gift basket of shellfish and other local treats, with a drive-thru pickup scheduled for Sunday at Gloucester Point.

The “Happy Oysters for Happy Holidays” event is aimed at helping aquaculture farmers stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AquaCultured, a grant-funded program by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and Virginia Sea Grant, will spend the next year helping oyster growers transition their business to e-commerce and specialized marketing.

The VIMS extension team will connect aquaculture farmers to complementary industries, such as wineries, breweries and restaurants, in order to create a broader customer base for both businesses.

The team is also sponsoring three events aimed at promoting and selling local seafood, starting with “Happy Oysters for Happy Holidays”—gift baskets that include Sapidus Oysters, harvested locally using environmentally friendly practices.

Orders for the $75 gift basket must be...