Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Molloy.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Neptune’s Harvest Fertilizer’s parent company, Ocean Crest Seafood’s Inc., in Gloucester, MA. (America’s oldest seaport) inadvertently ended up in the organic fertilizer business. A wholesale seafood company established in 1965, Ocean Crest had a need to dispose of the fish remains created after processing, called gurry. Gurry makes up 60 to 70% of the fish after it is filleted. Ocean Crest got together with researchers from the University of Massachusetts’ marine station and developed the process of turning the gurry into fertilizer, which allows the company to utilize 100% of the fish. The fertilizer is made using a unique cold process, so none of the heat sensitive nutrients and enzymes are destroyed. Multiple species of fish, caught well offshore in the cold, clean, mineral rich North Atlantic Ocean are used. It is ground fresh the day it comes in off the boats, so it doesn’t stink like Fish Emulsions and it works much better. After years of refinement, it has become one of the best fertilizers on the market today.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many challenges over the years. We were a fish company, with no experience in fertilizer, when we got started. It was a big learning curve, but we’ve learned so much over the years and now we can answer just about every question that comes our way. Also, we are a family company. Out of 45 employees, 16 are family. This brings its own challenges.
Please tell us about Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer.
The Fish Fertilizer is beneficial in several ways. First of all, it is organic. To make the products, we use what nature has given us from the ocean, which is nature’s perfect source for the nutrients plants and soil need to stay healthy (in nature’s perfect balance). Secondly, we use every part of the seafood, so there is no waste that is being dumped back into the ocean or sent to landfills; instead, the “waste” is used to help grow stronger, healthier plants.
The whole world use to be under ocean water. They found Fish fossils on the top of Mount Everest. Ever since then it’s been demineralizing. By adding products from the ocean back to the soil, it replenishes it, and brings it back to life.
Fish Fertilizer not only helps create healthy plants and soil, but use of the product eliminates, or greatly reduces, the need to use pesticides or any other chemicals, which reduces the negative impact on the environment. The Fish also builds up the organic matter in the soil, which sequesters carbon and helps the soil retain moisture, so growers don’t need to use as much water.
The Fish has much more than NPK. It contains micro and macro nutrients, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, trace elements, enzymes, omega oils and naturally occurring growth hormones. It builds the biological life of the soil by feeding the beneficial bacteria and soil microbes. It also builds the brix (sugar) in the plant making it less susceptible to insect damage and disease and it makes everything taste better. Crops grown with the Fish will be more nutritional, because of all the nutrients you are feeding them. Fish raises the TDN (total digestible nutrients) and RFV (relative feed value) making very nutrient dense food.
You will see higher yields and better quality crops, on everything you grow, when you use the Fish Fertilizer. It is highly concentrated so it goes a long way. For home use, you only need 1 oz. per gallon of water every 1-2 weeks.
We continue to expand our product line each year. When we started it was just the Fish Fertilizer. Now we have Fish & Seaweed Blend, Liquid Seaweed, Lawn Starter, Turf Formula, Rose &Flowering, and Tomato &Veg. Plus our dry Crab & Lobster Shell and Kelp Meal. The products come in retail sizes for home use, and bulk sizes for farms.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memories are spending time with all my many cousins, going boating and playing at the beach. We swam, played games, dug clams, and built many sand castles and sculptures. We always had the biggest sand castles on the beach. Growing up in Gloucester, with a big family, is as good as it gets.
Contact Info:
- Address: 88 Commercial St. and 28 Kondelin Rd.
Gloucester, MA 01930 - Website: www.neptunesharvest.com
- Phone: 800-259-4769
- Email: ann@neptunesharvest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neptunesharvest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neptunesharvest/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeptunesHarvest
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Peter Parsons
October 10, 2017 at 4:38 pm
Congratulations to Ann, her family’s foresight and courage, and Neptunes Harvest for providing one of the few remaining, innovative Maritime Industries in Gloucester, “America’s Oldest Fishing Port”. The alleged demise of Gloucester’s vital Fishing Industry has sadly gone under reported by most Media, with the rare exception of this–https://www.necir.org/2015/02/17/gloucester-hotel/. Additional questions need to be asked. Why, for instance, has the Governor defunded the Research Facility that was responsible for encouraging the “start-up” of Neptunes Harvest? Neptunes Harvest challenges the prevailing attitudes and policies that have supported tourism and gentrification over a the Fishing Industry that has provided Food and now, with Neptunes Harvest, Agricultural resources, for over 400 Years. Why, for that matter, is the Fishing Industry, under the Federal purview of The Commerce Department, rather than Agriculture? Again, Neptunes Harvest, like a “gift from the Gods”, will hopefully prevail, and encourage others, like it, to continue to support our Fishing, and Marine Industries.