Oishii Announces Cutting-Edge New Farm and Expansion Into Whole Foods Market; Hiroki Koga and Chris Manca Share
JERSEY CITY, NJ - A consumer’s call is hard to deny. Answering the rising demand for its beloved Omakase Berries, vertical farming expert Oishii has pulled back the curtain on its largest and most cutting-edge farm yet. The new farm, located in Jersey City, New Jersey, spans more than 74,000 square feet and will exclusively grow the supplier’s strawberries.
“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, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Oishii. “We’ve worked hard to pioneer advanced technology that unlocks a substantially more efficient way to grow our unrivaled strawberries. 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.”
A former Anheuser-Busch factory has been transformed into the company’s flagship farm of the future and new headquarters, and each harvest from the vertical strawberry farm relies on advanced robotics and automation, as well as 60 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than first-generation technology.
Oishii first introduced the Omakase Berry in 2018. As explained in a press release, demand for Oishii Omakase Berries is at an all-time high, pushing the company to expand its retail footprint to introduce more shoppers to the coveted offering. Omakase Berries will be available this summer at the upcoming Whole Foods Market store, opening in New York’s NoMad neighborhood.
“Eating an Omakase Berry is a full-sensory experience, and soon we can introduce them to customers stepping into our store,” said Chris Manca, Local Forager for Whole Foods Market’s Northeast Region. “We can’t wait for our customers to bring home the delicious flavor of Oishii’s beloved fruit.”
Oishii’s Omakase Berries are currently $20 for trays of 11 medium berries or eight large berries, $11 for trays of six medium berries, and $6 for trays of three medium berries.
Be on the lookout for ANUK’s little green apple logo for more expansion updates from the fresh produce industry.
