New Jersey now hosts the world’s first and largest vertical strawberry farm, a 22,000-sq. km. facility operated by U.S-based startup Oishii and founded by Japanese entrepreneur Hiroki Koga, whose mission is to “share the appeal of high-quality Japanese fruit with the world.”
The farm produces authentic, pesticide-free Japanese varieties of strawberries year-round, using AI to control environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and light. This technology replicates the optimal harvest conditions found in Japan.
Once the strawberries reach perfect ripeness, robots harvest them. The farm is sealed fully from the outside environment to prevent insect and germ contamination and maintain the purity of the harvest. The facility is also eco-friendly as it uses recycled water for irrigation and renewable energy for electricity.
Koga was inspired to start Oiishii in 2016 shortly after arriving in the United States, dismayed by the local fruit industry’s focus on quantity over quality. Determined to introduce Japanese fruit culture to the country, he bought Omakase Berry seeds from the Japanese Alps to New York and set up the first indoor vertical strawberry farm in the state.
Since starting production in 2017, Oishii’s strawberries have gained popularity for their distinct sweetness and aroma even if their prices are more than three times higher those of U.S. brands.
In February, Oishii announced it had received around $126.5 million (20 billion Japanese yen) in funding from NTT Corp, Mizuho Bank, and other investors and will use most of the investment to build a new indoor strawberry farm.
