Hannaford expands sourcing from fast-growing Lisbon aquaponics farm

Photo / Tim Greenway Trevor Kenkel, founder and CEO of Springworks aquaponics farm in Lisbon, has grown his greenhouse operation to feed demand from Hannaford and other sellers.

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By Staff

Thanks to a greenhouse opened last summer, Springworks Farm, an aquaponics operation in Lisbon, has nailed down an exclusive supply contract with Hannaford Supermarkets to supply whole-head Romaine lettuce at all of the chain's grocery stores in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

The produce replaces field-grown lettuce from California, Arizona and Mexico and saves up to six days of trucking and nearly 3,500 food miles, according to a news release.

Springworks is the largest and first certified organic aquaponic farming operation in New England. The farm’s aquaponic greenhouse facility is 34 miles from Hannaford’s distribution center in South Portland.

The shortened distribution time is expected to result in a fresh product, said Springworks founder and president, Trevor Kenkel.

Springworks has other contracts with Hannaford underway, and is already the chain's exclusive supplier of certified organic green leaf lettuce. Springworks also supplies all 184 Hannaford stores with baby Romaine lettuce and Boston bibb, plus various pre-cut products in certain stores.

Hannaford Produce Category Manager Mark Jewell said local sourcing contributes to the company’s sustainability goals and supports local business.

In June, Springworks opened its third greenhouse, a 40,000-square-foot facility that’s part of a five-year 500,000-square foot expansion designed to meet demand from the producer's partnership with Hannaford and other sellers.

Aquaponics is a farming technique in which fish and plants support each other’s growth in a closed system. Nutrient-rich water from raising fish is pumped into growing beds, which feeds the plants. The plants, in turn, clean the water and return it to the fish. No chemicals are needed.

The Springworks system uses 95% less water than soil-based agriculture and the company’s proprietary system grows up to 20 times more produce per acre than a conventional farm.

It’s one of only a handful of commercial aquaponics greenhouses in the United States.

Kenkel, a 2021 Mainebiz NEXT list honoree, started Springworks in 2014.