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April 10, 2024Have a look at these photos capturing the relaunch of our FreshMinistries Aquaponics urban farm in Jacksonville Florida, on April 25th, 2024.
April 30, 2024
— For immediate release —
April 26, 2024
For more information, contact: Michael Frazier, [email protected], (347) 415-0219
The grand opening of the state-of-the-art aquaponics facility in Jacksonville is the latest initiative in FreshMinistries’ long-standing commitment to driving sustainable solutions.
Jacksonville, Fla. – The nonprofit FreshMinistries, a long-time leader in bringing successful outreach programs to communities worldwide, yesterday opened the state-of-the-art Weaver Center aquaponics urban farm.
This cutting-edge facility marks a significant milestone in the organization’s ongoing commitment to revolutionize the fight against food insecurity through sustainable solutions. This is the second opening of an aquaponics farm in as many months for FreshMinistries. In March, FreshMinistries opened an aquaponics farm and training center in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In Jacksonville, the Weaver Center aquaponics urban farm embodies the transformative potential of aquaponics, a sustainable farming method that combines the benefits of aquaculture–raising fish in tanks–with hydroponics–cultivating plants in water–to create a symbiotic ecosystem where fish and plants thrive together. The combination produces a harvest of fresh, nutritious produce and fish in a harmonious environment with a much lower carbon footprint than traditional farming.
“This facility is more than just a farm—it is a beacon of hope and innovation in our ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity,” said Rev. Dr. Robert V. Lee III, Chairman and CEO of FreshMinistries. “By leveraging sustainable farming practices, we are not only providing a key source of nourishment but also fostering resilience, environmental stewardship and empowerment within the communities we serve.”
The Weaver Center aquaponics farm will provide specialized training in aquaponics and business operations to individuals in low-income communities and further reinforce critical pathways to success.
Building on its long history of working within the community, the organization has partnered with Chartwells K12, a dining service provider committed to providing students healthy choices in school cafeterias, and other organizations to ensure the center provides a supply of fresh produce to the Duval County Public School system and other key beneficiaries.
The Weaver Center aquaponics urban farm is the seventh center inaugurated since 2017 and represents the latest facility in FreshMinistries’ growing commitment to combating hunger locally and around the world. This expansion follows the March 2024 opening of the Johannesburg facility, which is set to enhance food security across six African nations. As part of its Desmond Tutu Program to End Hunger, FreshMinistries has an ambitious plan to deploy 198 aquaponics units across eight African countries within the next five years.
About FreshMinistries
FreshMinistries is a nonprofit outreach organization working to eliminate extreme poverty by empowering communities and individuals to realize their full potential.