Sea salt farming primarily utilizes solar evaporation to extract salt from seawater. This traditional method involves several steps:
1. Seawater Collection and Transfer
Seawater, ideally from clean, pristine sources, is collected and channeled into shallow, artificial basins known as salt evaporation ponds. These ponds are carefully designed to maximize sun exposure and encourage evaporation. Examples include Kona Sea Salt's 7-acre oceanfront farm in Kona Keahole Point, Hawaii, which hand-harvests salt from deep ocean waters [Kona Sea Salt, Seas Salts of Hawaii]. Another example is Jacobsen Salt in Netarts Bay, Oregon, which uses a two-and-a-half-week process to harvest sea salt from the bay [YouTube, How sea salt is made].
2. Evaporation Process
The sun's heat gradually evaporates the water from the ponds, leaving behind a concentrated brine solution. The length of this process depends on factors like climate, sun exposure, and the salinity of the initial water.
3. Salt Crystallization and Harvesting
As evaporation continues, the brine solution becomes saturated with salt, leading to the formation of salt crystals. The methods of harvesting vary. Some farms, like Kona Sea Salt, employ hand-harvesting techniques [Kona Sea Salt]. Others might use mechanical means. Fleur de sel, a prized variety of sea salt, is hand-harvested from the top of salt ponds [Traditional Ways of Knowing: Salt Harvesting].
4. Salt Processing and Packaging
After harvesting, the sea salt often undergoes a simple process of washing, drying, and grading before packaging. This minimizes impurities and provides consistent quality.
Besides solar evaporation ponds, sea salt can also be obtained from rock deposits. However, this isn't considered "farming" in the same sense as the process described above.
Alternative Methods: While solar evaporation is the dominant method for sea salt farming, other methods exist, such as techniques using controlled evaporation in enclosed facilities. These are less common and often associated with higher production volumes but might not result in the same artisanal qualities as solar-evaporated sea salt.
