Publix says it is supporting coral restoration efforts in the Florida Keys by installing a coral field nursery consisting of 25 coral trees, with the help of military veterans from the nonprofit Force Blue, through its “Good Together” environmental campaign donations made by customers and employees at Publix stores in the state.
A coral tree is a tree-like structure anchored to the ocean floor and equipped with floats (or buoys) to maintain its upright position. Coral fragments are hung from the branches of the tree, allowing them the opportunity to grow freely and adapt to ocean conditions, according to the company.
Built by support associates in Lakeland, Fla., the coral trees were transported to the Florida Keys using the Publix Good Together truck. From there, military veterans from Force Blue and local scientists anchored the trees to the ocean floor within what is now known as the Publix Coral Nursery — an extension of an existing Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium underwater coral field nursery. The team then attached small fragments of coral to the trees, like ornaments on a Christmas tree, which can grow into larger corals that can later be transplanted to existing coral reefs to help rehabilitate the coral population.
“It is a great honor for our company to be able to support such an important local project aimed at conserving and restoring coral reefs,” says Paul Osley, director of environmental and sustainability programs for Publix. “With the help of Force Blue and local scientists with Mote and I.CARE [Islamorada Conservation & Restoration Education], this coral field nursery will help rebuild these important habitats.”
Publix began funding environmental projects with Force Blue in 2023, with the creation of Force Blue’s Quick Reaction Force giving the organization the ability to quickly respond to environmental emergencies. Publix says it committed to covering the costs associated with the first QRF deployments. Force Blue has also been a recipient of a portion of the grocer’s “Good Together” environmental campaign funding since 2024, allowing them to complete various marine debris removal and coastal conservation projects across Florida.
Force Blue is a nonprofit organization that retrains and redeploys former special operations veterans and military-trained combat divers to work alongside scientists, environmental agencies and community leaders on marine conservation missions.
In addition to funding coral restoration projects, Publix says it also donates a portion of the profits from its companywide reusable bag sales to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in Florida. Donations made outside of Florida during the “Good Together” environmental campaign are provided to the Arbor Day Foundation to help rebuild forests in its other seven states of operation.
Since 2016, Publix says its efforts have helped the Arbor Day Foundation plant over 2.7 million trees across its eight operating states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
