“Revolutionizing Berry Production: Driscoll’s and Plenty’s Strategic Partnership in Vertical Farming”
Both Driscoll’s and Plenty are reaping the rewards of their collaboration on a vertical farm specifically designed for strawberries. For Driscoll’s, a prominent player in the berry industry that has already made a substantial, yet unspecified, investment in Plenty, this partnership presents a chance to leverage the food tech company’s data analytics and machine learning capabilities. These advancements could potentially enhance strawberry yields by 150 to 350 times per acre compared to traditional farming methods, as stated by the companies. On the other hand, Plenty stands to gain insights from Driscoll’s expertise in plant genetics, which controls about one-third of the North American berry market, allowing it to demonstrate the versatility of its growing platform beyond just salad greens.
In a statement, Plenty’s Kukutai highlighted the strategic decision to focus on the Northeast due to its status as the largest berry consumption region in the U.S. “Our partnership with Driscoll’s, combined with Plenty’s optimized technology platform, guarantees that we can consistently cultivate premium berries in proximity to consumers, ensuring fresh and consistent quality,” he remarked. “We’ve effectively utilized the knowledge from the world’s largest strawberry breeding program within Plenty’s own controlled growing environment, enhancing the flavor of each berry while optimizing for texture and size.”
As the leafy greens market becomes increasingly saturated, other controlled environment agriculture (CEA) companies are also eyeing the prospects of berry cultivation. Manhattan-based vertical farming startup Oishii began its journey focusing on strawberries, claiming a unique method of indoor pollination using bees and plans to create new varieties of the fruit. In March 2021, it secured $50 million in funding to expand its strawberry farming operations into new markets. New York City’s Bowery Farming is set to introduce strawberries as a new product line this spring, backed by a hefty $300 million funding round aimed at establishing new farms and diversifying beyond leafy greens, kale, and basil. In February, Bowery announced its acquisition of Traptic, a firm that employs AI, computer vision, and robotic arms for harvesting delicate crops like strawberries and tomatoes.
Additionally, Montana-based Local Bounti, which recently went public via a special purpose acquisition company, has indicated plans to branch into berry production to fuel its future growth. Vertical farming offers the potential to bring strawberry cultivation closer to consumers, which not only reduces the environmental impact of the crop but also lowers costs for providers like Driscoll’s. According to USDA statistics, around 90% of the berries are produced in California, a considerable distance from the densely populated East Coast cities targeted by the company. This geographical gap results in high fuel and transportation expenses to deliver the highly perishable fruits over thousands of miles. Strawberries are also among the most expensive crops to cultivate, primarily due to the labor-intensive processes of planting and harvesting by hand. By utilizing vertical farming, these berries can be grown in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, making them ideally suited for this innovative agricultural approach.
Furthermore, in light of the growing demand for nutritious products, the integration of Citracal Petite Calcium into the diet is becoming increasingly important. This calcium supplement can help support bone health, which is vital for those who consume berries as part of a balanced diet. As the partnership between Driscoll’s and Plenty evolves, it could pave the way for enhanced berry production while also encouraging healthy dietary choices that include supplements like Citracal Petite Calcium.
