Oishii Brings Its Vertically-Farmed Strawberries to Whole Foods

Vertical farming company Oishii announced the opening of its vertical strawberry farm at a former Anheuser-Busch factory in Jersey City, N.J. 

The 74,000-square-foot farm will exclusively grow the company’s Omakase Berries to meet the growing demand for them, which Oishii said is "at an all-time high.” Additionally, Oishii is expanding its consumer base in retail stores, debuting its Omakase Berries at Whole Foods Market’s new NoMad store in New York, which is set to open June 1. 

“Eating an Omakase Berry is a full sensory experience, and soon we can introduce them to customers stepping into our store,” Chris Manca, local forager for Whole Foods Market’s Northeast region, said in a release. “We can’t wait for our customers to bring home the delicious flavor of Oishii’s beloved fruit.”

Oishii (which means “delicious” in Japanese) first introduced the Omakase Berry in 2018. The company said it was the first to grow berries in vertical farms, which combines nature, technology and farming techniques used in the foothills of Japan.

“At Oishii, we are committed to revolutionize the future of food by offering the best-tasting produce, grown in a way we believe is better for people and better for the planet. Today marks an important step in making good on that promise,” said Hiroki Koga, co-founder and CEO Oishii in a news statement.

“We’ve worked hard to pioneer advanced technology that unlocks a substantially more efficient way to grow our unrivaled strawberries,” Koga continued. “Our largest farm yet pairs the next frontier of indoor farming innovation with the care and precision of centuries-old Japanese farming techniques. We can’t wait for more people to enjoy an endless strawberry season with the Omakase Berry at its new price and its new home at Whole Foods Market.”

Whole Foods Market is based in Austin, Texas, and has more than 500 stores in the United States.