MICHAEL Harris, more fondly known as Harry Mussels, has won the From the Sea award at this year’s delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards.
His Flinders grown mussels were recognised as the best sea produce in Australia by judges including seafood expert Josh Niland.
The awards took place at Matt Moran’s restaurant Aria on 4 August and celebrated food producers who often go unrecognised in the food scene.
Harry said he usually lets his mussels speak for themselves.
“But to be nominated by these hatted chefs, that’s some form of recognition and to see it go all the way to be named the best sea produce in Australia, you know, I’m up against some pretty big heavyweights,” said Harry.
Harry started his mussel farm in Flinders in 1999. He didn’t advertise or market the business, preferring to let it grow by word of mouth.
Harry said what sets him apart is the elusive nature of his mussels.
“It has a lot to do with the area where I grow them, and also my duty of care to the product,” said Harry.
“I only sell them when they’re good, I don’t sell them all year round, like other farmers do.”
Harry said mussels spawn when the water temperature gets to its coldest point, which is when they enter their reproductive style. After spawning, there is nothing inside the mussel, so Harry waits and sells mussels mainly in the first half of the year, when they have had time to fatten.
His mussels were described by Jo Barrett, chef and co-founder of Wildpie, as “plump and delicious”.
Harry said they are creamy with a soft, velvety texture mainly thanks to the food they eat, growing on algae created in the Bass Strait.
“When people eat my mussels, they say to me, ‘Look, I didn’t realise mussels were like that’,” said Harry.
Harry said he is grateful for the way his business has grown and the recognition.
“I built my business on the back of selling mussels off the pier, and it’s just grown from that,” said Harry.
“My brand has grown and grown to the point that the council now recognised me when I put my hand up and said, ‘I want to do some value adding on the foreshore’, they got behind me.”
You can find out more about Harry and his mussels at flindersmussels.com.au.
First published in the Mornington News – 18 August 2026
