Aquaponics co. to expand, eyeing local food market
A young Portland-based aquaponics company is expanding from a 500-square-foot greenhouse operation to a commercial-scale facility to grow vegetables and fish in a mutually nutritious system.
The two founders of Fluid Farms told the Bangor Daily News that the symbiotic growing method — an offshoot of aquaculture — is still relatively new around the country and, to their knowledge, not being done on any large scale in Maine.
The latest expansion will move the company from its Portland greenhouse to a 25,000-square-foot greenhouse in North Yarmouth.
The company is raising funds primarily through the website Kickstarter.com, where 121 donors have contributed just over $8,000 to the expansion.
That's about half of the amount that founders Tyler Gaudet and Jackson Mcleod say is needed to buy a heating system to produce fish and vegetables year-round. With $10,000, the company expects its growing season will last five months, from May to September.
The company intends to market its locally grown fish and produce to restaurants and markets in the Portland area.
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