Aqua and Acre Market is a sustainable urban farming operation that uses aquaponics to cultivate fresh produce alongside fish.
From 2018 to 2024, Dr. Kelsey Murray served as the Program Director for Environmental Engineering and Controlled Environment Agriculture programs at Western Dakota Technical College. In that time, she developed a curriculum and fostered modern, sustainable agricultural techniques.
Her passion for sustainable agriculture techniques and a desire to make urban farming more accessible led to the creation of Evergreen Aquafarms: a sustainable urban farming operation that uses aquaponics to cultivate fresh produce alongside fish.
This week, the storefront opened its doors. Aqua and Acre will offer the sustainably farmed produce alongside other locally made products.
Elevate Rapid City assisted Aqua and Acre through the Rapid Fund program. The Economic Development organization also facilitated introductions within the business community. Lori Frederick, senior economic development director, said, “At Elevate Rapid City, we are dedicated to empowering new business startups by providing the resources, connections, and support needed to succeed. Partnering with innovative businesses like Aqua and Acre highlights our commitment to fostering economic growth and sustainable practices in the region. By offering guidance, facilitating access to funding opportunities, and connecting entrepreneurs with valuable networks, we aim to make Rapid City the ideal place to launch and grow visionary enterprises.”
Murray said, “We are thankful to Elevate and for their vital role in getting Aqua and Acre off the ground. As a non-traditional business, we faced unique challenges that required innovative solutions. Elevate offered a path for us to bring our sustainable agriculture vision to life. Their commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs has been instrumental in allowing us to create a business that will contribute to both the local economy and the future of sustainable farming in our community.”
Aqua and Acre Market is located at 614 Saint Joseph Street. You can learn more at evergreenaquafarms.com.
