4Roots & SeaWorld Orlando Launch Partnership to Feed Manatees

Orlando, FL (August 2, 2024) –4Roots and SeaWorld Orlando have announced a partnership to provide nutrient rich, locally grown lettuce from the 4Roots greenhouse to the manatees at SeaWorld. The partnership reflects the organizations’ shared dedication to supporting the local Orlando community, including utilizing high-quality, locally produced food, for humans as well as animals, like the manatees at SeaWorld.

Manatees are herbivores and large aquatic mammals native to Florida, typically ranging in size, with some reaching upwards of over 3,000 pounds. Manatees consume about eight percent of their bodyweight in leafy greens and grasses daily, which are crucial for their survival.  

The Atlantic coast of Florida is a place that thousands of manatees call home, yet habitat challenges have left many of these animals in peril. SeaWorld is one of the country’s largest manatee rescue operations—with its Orlando Rescue Center serving as one of only three critical care centers in the U.S. SeaWorld has helped more than 950 manatees to date, always with the goal of returning healthy animals to their native environment. For those manatees at the SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Center, a nutritious diet is an essential part of their holistic health. 

Just across town in The Packing District, 4Roots is growing fresh lettuce (among other crops) in an 18,000 square foot greenhouse on their Farm Campus. The state-of-the-art greenhouse is a regenerative farming facility and a living microbiome that harvests tens of thousands of pounds of natural, pesticide free produce per week to distribute to the community via the 4Roots Meet the Need program, Mobile Farmers Market, Fresh by 4Roots and other distribution channels, like SeaWorld. The lettuce is grown in a Rotating Field System imported by GrowPonics, an automated agriculture company based out of Israel. As part of this partnership with 4Roots, SeaWorld is purchasing 400-500 pounds of lettuce twice a week for the manatees from 4Roots.

“It is so exciting to see our greenhouse up and running harvesting tens of thousands of pounds of nutrient rich produce, right in the heart of Orlando,” said 4Roots Founder and CEO, John Rivers. “We are proud to partner with SeaWorld to be able to provide this lettuce twice a week to their manatees. It is local partnerships like this that enable us to carry out our mission of unearthing the power of food to build healthier communities.” He added, “It is an honor to play a small role in the great work SeaWorld does to rehabilitate these beautiful mammals.”

“It’s wonderful to be part of a community initiative that supports both the local agricultural industry and the wellbeing of our rescued manatees,” said SeaWorld Orlando President, Jon Peterson. “By sourcing locally grown, nutrient-rich lettuce, we continue to provide our manatees with the best possible care and nutrition while also supporting sustainable farming practices. This partnership with 4Roots not only helps us provide a steady and healthy food supply for our manatees but also aligns with our commitment to conservation and community engagement.”

By partnering with 4Roots, SeaWorld aims to make a positive impact on the local economy, reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. This initiative highlights SeaWorld’s dedication to environmental stewardship and the importance of fostering strong community partnerships.

About 4Roots

The 4Roots Farm Campus, located in The Packing District, is in the heart of Orlando’s emerging neighborhood. It invites the community to gather and collaborate on the creation of a robust local food system. With a diverse range of growing systems, it offers a unique hands-on learning experience that highlights innovative and sustainable practices and technologies from around the world. Learn more at 4Roots Farm Campus or follow us at @4rootsfarmcampus on Instagram and Facebook.

About SeaWorld 

SeaWorld is a leading marine life theme park and accredited zoo and aquarium that provides experiences that matter while educating and inspiring guests of all ages to care about marine life. Welcoming millions of guests every year, the parks offer fun and enriching experiences from up-close animal encounters and year-round educational programs to award-winning marine-life-themed rides and attractions, special events, and exciting entertainment. For more than 60 years SeaWorld has advanced the conservation of marine life in and outside its parks through science, education, and exceptional animal care that is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world, helping more than 41,000 animals to date. The SeaWorld Conservation Fund, a non-profit foundation established in 2003, has provided more than $20 million to nearly 1,400 organizations to advance critical research on every continent. A portion of park proceeds goes toward supporting these longstanding conservation commitments. SeaWorld parks are in Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). SeaWorld is part of the United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE:PRKS) portfolio of theme park brands. For more information, visit us at SeaWorld.com.