TheOcean’sSuperfood

3Doceanfarmsproduceavarietyoffoods,andthat’sterrific.Butthestaroftheshowiskelp.Iftherewaseverasuperfood,kelpis it.


Kelpandotherseaweedsthatpeoplecaneatareincrediblynutritious.Theseseaveggiesarepackedwithvitamins,minerals,andomega-3s.(Omega-3saresomeofthehealthynutrientsthatpeoplegetfromeatingfish.Butyouknowwherefishgetit?Fromeating seaweed!)


Kelphasotheramazingbenefits.It’swhatSmithcallsazero-inputfood.Youdon’thavetoadd,orinput,anythingtoit.Itdoesn’tneedfertilizer,pesticides,orfreshwater.Theoceanandsunlightprovideeverythingkelp needs.


There’smore.Youmayknowthattheburningofcoal,oil,andnaturalgaspumpsalotofcarbondioxide (CO2) intotheair.Allthat CO2leadstochangingclimatesandanoverallwarmingplanet.Alotofthe CO2endsupintheoceanwhereitmakesthewatermoreacidic.It’snotliketheoceanbecomesamegapoolofbubblingacid,butthegreateraciditydoesharmsomewildlife.Shellfish,forexample,growthinner,weaker shells.

Kelprollsarejustoneofmanydishesthataremadewith kelp.

BrenSmithharvestskelpfromhisocean farm.

Seaweedtotherescue!Kelpabsorbs,ortakesin, CO2asitgrows,justlikelandplantsabsorb CO2fromtheair.So,themorekelpthatoceanfarmersgrow,thelessacidictheoceanbecomes.That’sgood news.


Soisthis:Seaweedfarmsareaboosttotheeconomy.Ordersforkelpandotherseaweedsareontheincreasefromrestaurants,schools,companycafeterias,andgrocerystores.Thegrowingdemandmeansmoreandmorepeoplecangetintotheoceanfarmingbusinessandmakeadecent living.


BrenSmithhelpedcreateanorganizationcalledGreenWavetodojustthat.GreenWavetrainspeopleandhelpsthemgetsetupwiththeirownoceanfarms.Itevenguaranteestobuymostoftheircropforthefirsttwoyearssotheyknowthey’llbeabletosellwhatthey grow.


ThousandsofpeoplehavecontactedSmithforhishelp.Infact,he’shadrequeststohelpstart3DfarmsineverycoastalstateintheUnitedStatesandin25countriesaroundtheworld.Wordisspreadingasquicklyaskelp grows!


Okay,sokelpdoesalotofwonderfulthings,butyouprobablyhavebeenaskingyourselfonebigquestion:Howdoesit taste?

BrenSmithhelpspreparekelpfor eating.

TastesLiketheOcean

That’showmostfansofseaveggiesdescribetheflavorofkelpandotherseaweeds.Someoftheseseaveggies,likesugarkelp,areverymild.Theymayhavejustahintofsaltiness,liketheoceanair.Amildflavormakesiteasytoaddkelptoavarietyofdishes,likesoups,salads,beans,rice,mixedvegetables,andpizza.Seaweedsmoothiesareagrowing favorite.


Smithsliceshiskelpintonoodlesandsellsthem.Otherseaweedsaresoldasflakesorpowders,whichcanbesprinkledonanythingfromsoupstopeanutbuttersandwiches,foraboostofflavorand nutrition.

Someseaweedsareabitfishierthansugarkelp,withaflavorclosertotuna.Otherseaweedshaveasavorytaste,likemeatormushrooms.Nomattertheflavor,though,cooksallacrossthelandarediscoveringthatseaweedaddsadelightfultasteoftheoceantotheirfavorite foods.


Goodforfood,goodfortheplanet,goodforbusiness,andfantasticnutrition…Nowonderseaweedistheocean’s supercrop!

abowlofkelpreadyfor eating