BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
KERMIT — A new farm utilizing state-of-the-art aquaponic farming techniques is open for business in Kermit. Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics uses high-tech farming equipment and techniques to produce tilapia and greens such as lettuce, kale, and microgreens.
While much of Blue Acre’s business sells and delivers fresh fish and produce to restaurants all over eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, consumers can also stop by to purchase directly from the company. Blue Acre is currently selling lettuce for $2.50 a head.
“We have three different varieties of lettuce, all grown in water,” said Executive Director Tim Marcum.
The company was founded approximately three years ago as a way to bring fresh fish and produce to the people and businesses of Mingo County and beyond. The project began as a collaboration between the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, Sprouting Farms, and the people of Kermit. The greenhouse facility was built on reclaimed mine land.
One might wonder what fish and leafy greens have to do with one another. Marcum explains that the chemicals found in the waste produced by certain kinds of fish, such as tilapia, make excellent organic fertilizer for growing produce. In return, the plants naturally purify the water used to raise the fish.
“The waste for the fish is used for fertilizer in the aquaponics system that feeds the plants,” said Marcum. “So there’s no dirt.”
This closed system feeds itself, removing the need for chemical fertilizers and conserving water and materials.
“We use a little bit of an organic spray,” said Marcum. “But not much. We try to limit all that.”
The high-tech indoor greenhouse is open to the public for tours and is an inspiration to see. From solar panels that cut power costs to the recycling aquaponics system the facility is built around, Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics is a monument to efficient agriculture, paving a clear path for the future of farming in Appalachia.
“We’re still ramping up,” said Marcum. “I’m trying to find a distributor and a market for our microgreens. In addition, we’ve still got plenty of room to expand our lettuce production.”
Because Blue Acre is on the cutting edge of sustainable farming techniques, the team is constantly experimenting with new plants and procedures.
“The facility is really a learning center as well,” said Marcum. “It could be a catalyst for what works and what doesn’t work.”
Stop by the facility off US-52 in Kermit during the week to see what they have growing now. Currently, you can find their regular selection of lettuce and tilapia along with microgreens and tomatoes.
At full production, the Blue Acre facility in Kermit has the capacity to produce over 150,000 heads of lettuce and over 20,000 pounds of tilapia each year.
