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AquaRanch™ Systems Liners for Tanks & Ponds Aquaculture in Education Comments & Articles |
Gridley Firm Combines Growing Markets By Martin Ross A Central Illinois firm is helping aquaculture producers expand their production via an unusual seafood combo.
Gridley's AquaRanch Industries supplies tanks and tank/pool liners for the growing aquaculture industry, and helps develop "aquaponics" systems that yield both fish and culinary herbs in a controlled environment.
Myles Harston, who oversees Ringger Food's Aquaculture division (AquaRanch Industries, LLC), specializes in recirculating systems that use herb "crops" to help filter and recycle water for fish and fish wastes to nourish plants.
Harston said many herbs today are even more profitable than tilapia or other aquatic species, because of the renewed interest in gourmet cooking.
"Fresh herbs bring a lot more money than dried herbs," he noted. "Most of the dried herbs we consume in this country are grown overseas, dried, and shipped. But overseas producers don't have the same regulations American producers do, -they can use (U.S.-restricted pesticides) on them."
"The nice thing about naturally grown herbs is that we can grow them clean and fresh, you'll get a much better flavor, and they'll be free from herbicides and pesticides. The organic food market certainly is one of the fastest growing segments of the agriculture industry today in America, along with aquaculture. We're combining those two."
Ringger Foods also produces "crisp" rice and other ingredients for major food companies. It has marketed aquacultural systems not only to commercial fish-aquaponics operations, but to more than 250 high school FFA programs across Illinois and the nation.
In its former incarnation as Agri-Covers, Ringger Foods Aquaculture division manufactured plastic covers primarily for large grain bunkers. Harston has tapped his grain experience to bring cost-efficiency to aquaculture: Rather than selling expensive troughs for aquaponics, he adapts steel grain bin rings lined with non-toxic PVC plastic.
Liners can be used in both fresh- and salt-water operations (see accompany story: "Hog Houses Possible Aquaculture Option"). Harston has sold equipment to a Maine salmon company and to the National Marine Service in Seattle, which raises both salmon and cod.
Agri-Covers, which was acquired by Ringger Foods about four years ago, made the transistion to aquaculture in large part because of a shift in federal policy.
"I've been around fish all my life," Harston said. "We were really into the grain covers when the government was subsidizing storing grain. When it stopped subsidizing storage, much of our business went down.
"We started looking at other areas where covers and plastics would make a match. There's certainly a match with plastic and fish. We started making different liners, and found we had a market."
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