Aquaponic vegetables can be even more healthy and nutritious than those grown in the ground, especially if you’re comparing them to the mass-produced veggies from commercial farms that produce lettuce as far as the eye can see. In commercial farms, volume is the overriding goal, and fields are pressed into service no matter how depleted of nutrients they become over decades of unrelenting production. To keep the profits coming in, corporations turn to chemical fertilizers, which typically provide the minimal nutrients for growing, but don’t replace all the micronutrients that should be present in those delicious leafy greens.
In contrast, aquaponic vegetables are grown in a chemical-free environment with no pests (and no pesticides), no chemical additives, and no fertilizers. The fishy residents of an aquaponic system are fed a high quality, nutritious food. The fish consume the food then release waste. Beneficial bacteria and other microbes work on digesting the waste (comparable to your garden’s compost pile) and converting it to nitrates, which is an ideal form of fertilizer for the plants. With all the nutrients available in the water, the plants are able to grow and produce food that is full of the vitamins and minerals you need to thrive. No more daily vitamin pills for you - a healthy diet of aquaponic vegetables, fruits, and grains can provide everything you need.