BERLIN, GERMANY & CINCINNATI, OH - Urban and farming may sound like opposing words but the produce industry is hard at work to make these two seemingly dissonant situations coexist. Kroger recently announced a partnership with Infarm, an urban farming network, stating that both companies will bring modular living produce farms to North America. “Delivering produce picked so fresh you can see the roots,” this partnership between Kroger and Infarm marks the first-of-its-kind in the United States.
"Kroger believes that everyone deserves to have access to fresh, affordable, and delicious food, no matter who you are, how you shop, or what you like to eat," said Suzy Monford, Kroger's Group Vice President of Fresh. "Our partnership with Infarm allows us to innovate by combining ground-breaking in-store farming technology with our passion for fresh, local produce and ecological sourcing. Kroger is excited to be first to market and offer the best of the season, and we're proud to lead the U.S. on this journey."
According to a press release, the living produce farms will launch this month at two of the 15 stores planned at QFC, one of Kroger’s banners, at locations in Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington. Using hydroponic technology, the produce will grow on site at the participating QFC stores, removing the need for extended transportation and storage and producing a more eco-conscious product. The farms are designed to scale and will provide shoppers the freshest and most sustainable living produce options available.
"We want to make fresh, pure, tasty, and nutritious produce available and affordable for everyone," said Erez Galonska, CEO and Co-Founder at Infarm. "Kroger's commitment to innovation, quality, and flavor makes them the perfect partner with which to launch our business in the United States and for the first time in North America."
Through this partnership, the retailer continues to invest in its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan, which aims to end hunger in local communities and eliminate waste across the company by 2025.
How will this new partnership impact Kroger's current fresh produce supplier relationships? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we wait for the answers.
