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SALT LAKE CITY — In an effort to encourage healthy eating, a new Salt Lake City company plans to use a unique method to grow organic produce year-round.
The inspiration for the company, D'Arc Aquaponics, was a combination of the founders' Hawaiian heritage and trying to get children to eat fruit and vegetables, according to marketing and communications director Kahealani Blackmon. Aquaponics is a farming system that combines aquaculture — raising aquatic animals like fish or snails— with hydroponics — growing plants in water rather than soil.
Hawaiians utilized natural aquaponics farming over 200 years ago, Blackmon said, and several of the colleges have aquaponics research and development facilities, including the University of Hawaii.
"One of the founders spent five plus years at the USDA's Pea and Lentil Research Facility in Pullman, Washington, and there was direct exposure there and we've gotten training on the aquaponics systems to make sure everything will work and go as it needs to here," Blackmon said.
She said the company is still deciding between three locations in Salt Lake City, but they plan to use the unique farming method to provide fresh produce year-round for Utahns along the Wasatch Front.
"When you look at the world today and the nutrients that aren't in produce — especially in Utah during the winter, you can't even get fresh produce — the inspiration came from … wanting to provide a healthier food to the community around us," Blackmon said.
Although D'Arc Aquaponics isn't the first company to use aquaponics in Utah, it will be the first to deliver produce within 48 hours of being harvested to residents living between Ogden and Utah County year-round.
Blackmon said they will provide a completely chemical-free, organic method of growing and harvesting their produce. The process is simple: the fecal matter from the fish will fertilize the plants and the plants will clean the water. Similar to a greenhouse, the temperature and lighting in the warehouse will be controlled to provide optimal growing conditions year-round.
"Some of our children aren't so fond of produce, especially vegetables. … If you can offer a produce that tastes better and doesn't have the bitter taste, then that's one key point that we are focused on to help with fighting childhood obesity."
The company plans to use a warehouse facility and will circulate 12,000 gallons of water between tanks with fish and tanks where the produce is grown. One tank of water will be able to grow about 25,000 heads of lettuce at a time, Blackmon said. The company is currently using koi and goldfish, but Blackmon said in the future, they want to add in other more edible fish species that could be sold along with the produce.
D'Arc Aquaponics will offer $50 memberships that will include delivery of the selected produce twice a month to an area in the customer's city. A $100 membership will include delivery twice a month to the customer's home, and produce will always be delivered within 48 hours of being harvested, Blackmon said.
She said they hope to launch the service in May 2016.
