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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Indoor CEA Facility
Fusion Farms grows a year-round, reliable, and varied harvest of fresh leafy greens, herbs, vegetables, and living microgreens aquaponically inside an 11,500 square foot, hurricane-protected concrete building in Mayagüez, western Puerto Rico. Our produce is grown in a closed, carefully controlled environment, powered by LED grow lights and water that is rich in nutrients provided by our tilapia fish. We harvest to order on the same day, which means that once an order is placed, we pick or prepare the produce and pack it into 100% compostable packaging on the same day we hand it over to customers. It doesn’t get fresher than that!
Actually, they don’t. Plants need light to grow; more specifically, they require certain frequencies of light and this is exactly what our CEA facility’s carefully controlled LED grow lights provide our plants with. Moreover, our grow lights can be adjusted to shine the exact blend of light colors (wavelengths) our crops require to develop optimally and with the best flavors.
Hydroponics is the farming of crops whose roots are submerged in a continuous flow of nutrient-rich water, in a closed and climate-controlled environment. Aquaponics is the fusion of hydroponics and aquaculture (fish farming), with the fish waste being the source of nutrients (fertilizer) to the plants. In this way, aquaponics harnesses the natural relationship between plants and animals or, more specifically, food crops and fish poop!
To learn more, go to Our Farm Model
Here at Fusion Farms, we use Tilapia, which is really the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish. Tilapia is an important food fish in cultures around the world and a very successful species used in aquaculture and aquaponics. We are also, at this time, investigating possibly introducing Basa, a species of catfish in the family Pangasiidae, which are native to Southeast Asia. These fish are also an important food fish with an international market.
This is somewhat of a misconception about aquaponically-produced food. Sure, it costs money to set up an aquaponics farm but once it is running, the costs of growing food can be much lower than traditional agriculture. For example, it takes only 10% of the volume of water required by traditional farmlands to run an aquaponic facility; also, we don’t require fertilizers (our fish take care of that for us), pesticides, or any other kind of chemical intervention since our indoor, climate-controlled system is protected from external influences. From a power perspective, Fusion Farms uses clean, solar energy, which vastly reduces our power bill. And then, being a vertical farm too, our output per acre (yield) can be as much as six to ten times greater than a traditional farm! Thanks to the above – and because it’s very important for us to remain accessible to our community – we price our produce fairly and competitively.
Data collection is a huge part of our operation at Fusion Farms because we are passionate about advancing, improving, and honing the art and science of what we do! Even with our rigorous protocols and precise nutritional recipes in place, nature introduces a plethora of variables that are simply impossible to control. By measuring and monitoring every conceivable aspect of our crops throughout each day, we can understand and address biology’s delicate fluctuations and nuances to make sure that the food we harvest is always nutritious and delicious.
Additionally, measuring our successes and failures in minutiae detail enables us to determine the very best protocols for optimizing production using a minimum of intervention, resources, and costs. We can then establish scalable replicable models that can be applied to other Fusion Farms facilities as we expand our operations across Puerto Rico. And finally, this science comprises the backbone of our educational and training efforts to help Puerto Rico grow its own food and become a food sovereign nation.
Yes, we do! Keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum is one of Fusion Farms’ highest priorities and so we are in the process of installing a $250,000 solar panel array using a grant we were awarded by the Puerto Rican Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO). It is also in our business plan to eventually make use of wind energy to help power our facility.
Yes you can! Fusion Farms’ tours take visitors on a sweeping journey through our pilot facility in Mayagüez, western Puerto Rico, covering our controlled environment agriculture room, wicking beds, Moringa fields, and rainwater collection system. We’ll also explain how aquaponics works and our vision: how indoor, hurricane-protected farm facilities like ours can offer the solution to Puerto Rico’s food crisis. And, of course, we wouldn’t let you go home without a taste test of our microgreens!
For more information, go to Fusion Farm Tours.
Please note: due to the current pandemic, all farm tours are unfortunately cancelled until further notice.
Fusion Farms’ fresh produce
We grow a kaleidoscopic garden of fresh leafy greens, herbs, specialty produce, and microgreens, from basil, mint, and moringa to a variety of lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, and so much more. You can go to Our Agricultural Products to explore our garden virtually.
Additionally, with each month and year that passes, the team at Fusion Farms experiments with new agricultural products, choosing plants that aren’t demanding and yet grow prolifically and are packed with nutrients. Eventually, we will be adding lots of vegetables and fruits to our farm, including green beans, strawberries, peppers, and fruit orchards. Our aquaponics systems will also provide a source of fresh, clean, and delicious food fish.
No. We only work with trusted seed producers and never use genetically modified seeds.
We don’t have to! Our contained, indoor farm is protected from most pests and diseases, and those that manage to get in are addressed using natural integrated pest control methods, such as ladybugs. This means that we never use any kind of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. All of our produce is fresh, nutritious, and 100% organic food, as nature intended.
To be clear, all food is organic (composed of organic chemical compounds), but in order to refer to food as ‘organic’ it needs to be produced by methods that comply with the standards of organic farming. Standards vary worldwide, but essentially organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological balance, don’t use pesticides, and conserve biodiversity. While we achieve (and exceed) all of the above by being more land and water efficient, we are yet to receive formal certification from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the government body that oversees organic certifications.
At Fusion Farms, we place the highest priority on food safety and so all of our staff members receive extensive food safety training; our policies and procedures are enforced for every person who may come into contact with our produce; and we adhere strictly to all food safety guidelines in all aspects of the business. We are proud to have FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act) PSA Certification from the FDA and assure customers that our produce and facilities are certified food safe and always will be
All of Fusion Farms’ packaging is made of 100% compostable and renewable natural fiber, and are ASTM D6400 Compliant, which is the standard specification for solid material biodegradation (by composting) required for labeling of plastics designed to be aerobically composted in municipal or industrial facilities.
In an open field or garden, plants develop large root systems to access the water and nutrients they need to grow. It takes quite a bit of growth energy to establish these root systems; energy that could rather go into the edible parts of the plant, such as the stems, leaves, and flowers. In an aquaponic system, however, the plant’s roots are suspended in nutrient-rich water and so most of the energy taken up by plant growth is concentrated on developing leafy density. Consequently, aquaponically grown plants are incredibly lush, dense, and nutritious. If you want to achieve the same thing, you might consider installing an aquaponics system in your own back yard.
Want to master DIY aquaponics? Enlist in one of Fusion Farms’ Training Program Here! [insert link to page]
If you are interested in joining the Fusion Farms team, you can go to the Join Our Team page to check for jobs and send in your application. We’re growing quickly, so check back often for new team openings.
Now more than ever, food health and hygiene is of utmost importance. Puerto Rico is counting on the food industry to continue to provide for its people’s most basic needs, but done with the highest concern for care and the health and well-being of our customers. Fusion Farms is an “essential” agricultural operation in Puerto Rico, which means that while most other businesses are forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are permitted to remain open, providing the public with our harvests of fresh, healthy produce.
Fusion Farms has been duly certified by the Produce Safety Alliance and we aggressively practice and adhere to the recommended food safety guidance, even as it changes in these unprecedented times. We are providing safe curbside pickup and delivery of fresh, organic produce to members of the local community. Additionally, we are donating food to the Rincon Community Crisis Center and Puerto Rico Food Bank in an effort to assist during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please do note that our Farm Tours are closed until further notice.
For more information about the measures Fusion Farms is taking during this unprecedented time, please go to Measures Against COVID-19
Where to find Fusion Farms’ fresh produce
Fusion Farms’ hurricane protected facility in Mayagüez produces a delicious variety of leafy greens, herbs, specialty produce, and microgreens, which you can purchase safely and conveniently from our Online Grocery Store.
You can also email your order to orders@fusionfarms.ag, text (939) 299-1929, or WhatsApp (760) 445-3315. We offer weekly curbside pick-ups of all orders.
Our produce is also available from FamCoop Edwards SuperMarket in Rincón and Natural Food Supply in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
Absolutely! We currently serve 37 restaurants in Mayagüez and Rincón (and growing) and are always looking to add new members to the Fusion Farms family. To enquire, please email info@fusionfarms.ag or call (939) 299-1929.
At this time, no. If you would like to purchase our fresh produce, we offer weekly curbside pick-ups or you can find us at FamCoop Edwards SuperMarket in Rincón or Natural Food Supply in Mayagüez.
You sure can – our produce is available from FamCoop Edwards SuperMarket in Rincón and Natural Food Supply in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. If you would like your local supermarket or grocery store to stock Fusion Farms’ produce, please do get in touch with us but also make sure to chat to them so that they know our produce is in demand! We are currently growing our network so *watch this space!*
How to Support Fusion Farms
Yes! Fusion Farms in Mayagüez is an indoor vertical aquaponics farm offering a great business opportunity for investors who believe in the value of sustainable, hyper-local, and environmentally friendly agriculture, particularly in a location that is so heavily reliant on imported food produce. If you are interested in becoming an investor in Fusion Farms and would like more information, we encourage you to contact us at ceo@fusionfarms.ag or call +1-787-220-4505. You can also read about the full opportunity on our Invest in Fusion Farms page.
We certainly do and appreciate any and all assistance that patrons are willing to lend to our cause to restore food sovereignty and security to the island of Puerto Rico. Fusion Farms is currently forming an educational foundation, which will provide free resources to schools, universities, non-profits, NGO’s, and other charitable organizations, who can benefit from learning about sustainable agriculture and all the wonderful state-of-the-art techniques and technologies we employ on our farms. If you would like to lend your weight to our educational cause, you can make a tax-deductible donation by going to Donate to Fusion Farms or by contacting us at ceo@fusionfarms.ag or +1-866-347-3321.
We like this question! If you want to help out Fusion Farms, aside from buying our wonderful produce, you can spread the word about us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn – like our pages, tell your friends and family about us, and leave a positive review or recommendation. Word of mouth is invaluable in spreading our positive message and providing us with the support we need to grow to cater to Puerto Rico’s need for fresh, healthy produce.
We’d love to hear from you!
If there’s anything you’re still unclear about or have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to email info@fusionfarms.ag. You can even find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn where we welcome and encourage questions and interaction!
