TheOcean’sSuperfood
3Doceanfarmsproduceavarietyoffoods.Butthestaroftheshowiskelp.Iftherewaseverasuperfood,it’s kelp.
Kelpandotheredibleseaweedsareincrediblynutritious.Theseseaveggiesarepackedwithvitamins,minerals,andomega-3s.(Peoplegetomega-3sbyeatingfish.Wheredofishgetit?From seaweed!)
Kelpisazero-inputfood. Youdon’thavetoaddanythingtoit.Theoceanandsunlightprovideeverythingthatkelp needs.
There'smore.Youmayknowthattheburningofcoal,oil,andnaturalgaspumpsalotofcarbondioxide (CO2) intotheair.Alotofthe CO2endsupintheocean.Itmakesthewatermoreacidic.Theaciditydoesharmsomewildlife.Shellfish,forexample,growthinner shells.
Kelprollsarejustoneofmanydishesthataremadewith kelp.
BrenSmithharvestskelpfromhisocean farm.
Seaweedtotherescue!Kelpabsorbs CO2asitgrows,justlikelandplantstakein CO2fromtheair.So,themorekelpthatoceanfarmersgrow,thelessacidictheocean becomes.
Seaweedfarmsalsoareaboosttotheeconomy.Ordersforkelpandotherseaweedsareontherise.Thegrowingdemandmeansmorepeoplecangetintotheoceanfarmingbusiness.Andtheycanmakeadecent living.
BrenSmithhelpedtocreateGreenWavetohelpotherssetuptheirownoceanfarms.GreenWaveevenguaranteestobuymostoftheircropforthefirsttwoyears.Thatway,thenewfarmersknowthey’llbeabletosellwhattheygrow.ThousandsofpeoplehavecontactedSmithforhis help.
TastesLiketheOcean
Okay,sokelpdoesalotofwonderfulthings.Buthowdoesit taste?
Alotoffanssaykelp"tastesliketheocean."Someoftheseseaveggies,likesugarkelp,areverymild.Theymayhavejustahintofsaltiness.Amildflavormakesiteasytoaddkelptodishes,likesoups,salads,beans,rice,andpizza.Seaweedsmoothiesareagrowing favorite.
Someseaweedsareabitfishierthansugarkelp,withaflavorclosertotuna.Otherseaweedshaveasavorytaste,likemeatormushrooms.Nomattertheflavor,cooksarelearningthatseaweedaddsadelightfulflavoroftheoceantomany foods.
Goodforfood,goodfortheplanet,goodforbusiness,andfantasticnutrition.Nowonderseaweedistheocean’s supercrop!