Angela TenBroeck, a fourth-generation farmer, and her family have been hydroponic farmers in North Florida since the 1970s. In 2012, helped launch Traders Hill Farm, a commercial aquaponics farm in Hilliard, Florida, that seeks to increase crop yield and grow year-round without harmful chemicals or waste. A closed-loop system that integrates hydroponic gardening with farm-raised fish, the aquaponic facility was the first to receive a SQF Certification for Safe Quality Food. Angela would go on to establish her current hydroponic/aquaculture venture, Worldwide Aquaponics.
After teaching middle and high school classes for 15 years, Angela combined her love of education and sustainable agriculture to create Aqua Hortus, a consulting company that educates and helps farmers across the globe develop and implement aquaponics systems.
Her passion for sustainability and community outreach led Angela to launch the Center for Sustainable Agricultural Excellence and Conservation (CSAEC), a nonprofit network of farmers working to develop and share best practices for more sustainable agriculture and increased access to fresh produce in underserved communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic Angela and the CSAEC began distributing boxes of fresh produce to seniors and families affected by the state mandated closures of many food banks and pantries in six Northeast Florida counties. CSAEC has also partnered with We Care Jax to provide fresh produce to healthcare patients suffering from cancer and other chronic diseases who are more vulnerable to contracting COVID and its variants and cannot risk venturing into public to secure food assistance.
Over the years, Angela has served in many roles: farmer, educator, entrepreneur, and today, mayor of Marineland, Florida. Throughout her career she has shown a commitment to innovation and community advocacy, as well as a desire to help Floridians most affected by food insecurity.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority and the Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program, honored Angela TenBroeck as the 2021 Woman of the Year in Agriculture during the Florida State Fair in Tampa in 2022.