I watched the mussel industry go from by the pound(loose in containers) to the 2 pound bag about 15 years ago. The bags, mesh, take alot of the worry out for wary consumers. You get clean, checked mussels, uniform in size, no grit, no beards. And the farmer gets a better profit to encourage a better product.

Farmed oysters are on the grow as well, as you must enjoy too.