Beluga, US-Farmed
Huso huso
The only legal Beluga in the United States, farm-raised at Sturgeon Aquafarms' 120-acre facility in Bascom, Florida. Broodstock was legally imported pre-ban (2003–2005); USFWS granted a beluga-meat exemption in 2016, and the first commercial caviar sales began in August 2020. Indistinguishable in character from Caspian Beluga: silky large pearls, minimal salinity, the signature lingering butter finish.
The point of true Beluga is its delicate melt. Serve it plain on a cold spoon. No blini, no crème fraîche — nothing that competes.
Pairings
- Champagne
- Prestige cuvée Champagne, Krug Clos du Mesnil
- Wine
- Vintage Champagne, White Burgundy Grand Cru
- Spirits
- Chilled premium vodka
Production
- Source
- farmed
- Producer
- Sturgeon Aquafarms (120-acre facility, Bascom, Florida; parent company Marky's Gourmet, Miami)
- Processing
- malossol
- Grade
- 000 / 00
Legal & sourcing
The only legal Beluga in the US: domestically farmed by Sturgeon Aquafarms / Marky's. Broodstock legally imported pre-ban (2003–2005). USFWS granted a beluga-MEAT exemption on 15 June 2016; the first commercial beluga CAVIAR sales began in August 2020 — the first genuine beluga caviar available to US consumers since the 2005 import ban. Farm donated ~160,000 fertilized eggs (2017–2018) to Caspian repopulation. Imported Caspian Beluga remains banned.
CITES Appendix II — international trade requires documentation. Wild harvest is banned; all commercial product is farmed.
The one legal way to try real Beluga in the US. Splurge order — eat it plain.