Five largest and longest running commercial aquaponics systems?

[Chris Megison]

Who are the five largest and longest running commercial aquaponics farms in existence today? How big? Are there any over 3,000 sf of grow bed space?

[Jon Parr]

I'm installing a 5500 sq ft commercial raft system right now, plus several hundred towers, which I sure hope is "for profit". Central California, May 2012, cross my fingers

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Wow! That's BIG! The best of luck to you in your new venture Jon! 

Jon Parr said:

I'm installing a 5500 sq ft commercial raft system right now, plus several hundred towers, which I sure hope is "for profit". Central California, May 2012, cross my fingers

[Chris Smith]

A recent Friendly newsletter they profiled a farm that was claimed at 30,000 square feet. I think that number is greenhouse space not system footage. Anyway it is very large.

[Curt Meilicke]

Two more for the list.

KP Simly Fresh - http://www.kpsimplyfresh.com/  They are using a system purchased from Nelson and Pade.

Natural Green Farms - http://naturalgreenfarms.com/Default.aspx  Based on UVI system

 

Not sure if either is profitable.  But both are trying to make money.

[Jack Probart]

hi Chris

I have a 1000 m2 raft systems that we build with wood and then fibre glassed and painted with food grade epoxy paint, but is just to time consuming to built. i found this picture on the web and I would like to know where I can buy these (see photo graph attached).

Regards
Jack Probart
Eden Aquaponics

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Hi Jack...those look like the DWC troughs used in a project located in the United Arab Emirates (at the Baniyas Center in Abu Dhabi). I don't know that they are commercially available, but you could contact someone there.

[Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair]

Get a roll of Dura Skrim and build a simple plywood and post trough.  Dura Skrim is pretty easy to work with and is food safe as far as I know. I believe it can even be certified organic from what I hear. A 25x6 roll will run you about a hundred dollars.

Jack Probart said:

hi Chris

I have a 1000 m2 raft systems that we build with wood and then fibre glassed and painted with food grade epoxy paint, but is just to time consuming to built. i found this picture on the web and I would like to know where I can buy these (see photo graph attached).

Regards
Jack Probart
Eden Aquaponics

[john landry]

farmedhere in Chicago does a good amount of business selling greens to Whole Foods and other locations.

http://farmedhere.com/

[David]

I have visited this operation

David

Jonathan Kadish NYC AA Chair said:

Herban Farms, near Philadelphia has a 10000sf green house that has been rockin just basil since 2006

http://www.herbanfarms.com/index.html

[Hollis Armstrong]

I am doing a business plan to start with 4 each 10,000 sq ft green houses. My long term business plan is to get to 40 each green houses for a total of 400,000 sq ft of green houses. Im still working on how to fully utilize the space. Im trying to figure out a way to incorporate media beds, raft beds, towers, and NFT beds to reach 80-90% space utilization. This will require supplemental lighting. I hope I can get the funding and make this happen.

[Sean Schriver]

Farmed Here - Chicago, IL 40,000 ft2 all indoor, stacked beds 5 high

Urban Organics - St. Paul, Minnisota (BIG, not sure exactly without re-checking the web) Indoor, stacked beds, 5000 fish (annual), 20000 lbs produce per 50 days per floor, 6 floors total when complete with one floor currently active.

Central Greens - Milwaukee, WI (17,000 ft2) Greenhouse/fish house

That's just a start, there are other smaller set-ups around along with our own in a gradual step-up plan to 15,000/20,000 over 3-5 years that we are starting to design/build now trhoughout this summer starting with a 220 or 440 Gal. hybrid system.

[john landry]

Living in IL, I always wonder why greenhouses are so tall - I guess that is why people are going vertical in areas.  Just need to heat that space!

I believe that someday soon LEDs will be price effective to not need the sun.