Animals At Florida Aquarium Now Dining On Restaurant-Quality Veggies

TAMPA, FL — The Florida Aquarium's resident herbivores are now enjoying fresh, vitamin-rich foods like kale and romaine lettuce in their diets thanks to a new partnership between the nonprofit aquarium and Le Roots, an urban farm in South Tampa.

Aquarium residents like the radiated tortoises, Linnaeus's two-toed sloth and ring-tailed lemurs are now chowing down on the same vegetables being served at some of Tampa's best restaurants.

"This partnership allows us to provide the highest quality, most nutrient-rich food to our animals," said Tim Binder, senior vice president of animal care and health at The Florida Aquarium. "We are excited to collaborate with Le Roots as we continue our dedication to excellence in animal care."

Beginning this month, the aquarium started receiving kale and romaine for the animals from Le Roots. The innovative aeroponic/hydroponic indoor farming lab uses vertical towers to cultivate premium produce.

Zack and Christina Alvarez, fourth-generation Tampa residents, purchased the property on MacDill Avenue during the pandemic and began by serving some of the Bay Area’s top restaurants, including Michelin-Star recipients and recognized chefs.

Now the couple said they're excited to feed the animals at the aquarium that they enjoyed visiting while growing up.

“Animals are getting that same exact produce that these restaurant customers are paying high-end dollars to get. It’s very cool for us to say everybody is getting the best of the best,” said Christina Alvarez. “We have been coming to the aquarium for years now. It’s just a dream come true to work with the aquarium and be able to give back to our community, a place that means so much to us and our families.”

The farm aligns with the aquarium’s focus on sustainability, minimizing the use of lights and electricity, using rainwater tanks and the tower gardens to yield the highest quality and quantity of food at the lowest cost.

“Our greenhouse and food facility are powered by low-voltage, single-phase power, so we’re using what a single house pulls in this neighborhood,” said Zack Alvarez. “Local sustainability, like the aquarium, is at the forefront of what we do to create a food source for dense urban areas, so they can have access to the freshest produce for people and animals.”

“The fact that Le Roots is just a 15-minute drive away, we can actually trace the food that we're feeding the animals from the time it's planted as a seed through its growth, processing for shipment and then we receive it within a day of it being harvested,” said Binder. “You can't get any better than that.”

As part of its commitment to sustainability and community consciousness, the aquarium’s culinary partner, SSA Group, has been working with Le Roots to supply high-quality produce to visitors at The Florida Aquarium’s restaurant.

The farm is growing a variety of vegetables and herbs — including spring mix, arugula, bibb lettuce, cilantro, parsley and basil — for the aquarium's on-site restaurant, Café Ray.

"One of the things that’s really exciting about Le Roots is their compassion to our mission and that ties together for the best of both worlds," Binder said. "We’re giving the animals the best product and it’s being delivered by a family and a company that really believes in what they’re doing for The Florida Aquarium and our animals."

Le Roots provides weekly deliveries to the aquarium and, in December, the company plans to open a market next to its greenhouse at 5119 S MacDill Ave., allowing the public to access farm-fresh food directly from the source.