Vertical farm 80 Acres Farms says it has formed one of the world’s largest indoor farming networks with the addition of Soli Organics. Founded in 1989, Soli Organics grows fresh, organic culinary herbs that are 100% USDA Certified Organic produce. They offer branded salads, salad kits, herbs, microgreens and dressings.
The newly formed company will operate under the 80 Acres Farms name and will be headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio. The companies say this merger combines 80 Acres Farms’ GroLoop platform with Soli Organic’s retail footprint and agronomic expertise and the combined companies’ revenues approach $200 million.
The combined companies say the venture will serve more than 17,000 retail locations across the U.S., supported by its farm and logistics network and its seven nationally distributed vertical farms. The company says it has the capacity to grow 15 to 20 million pounds of fresh produce annually.
“We’ve moved beyond what greenhouses can deliver,” says Ulf Jonsson, a founder of Soli Organic. “I’ve said for years: ‘The sun is free, but it’s not worth the cost.’ Vertical farms offer greater consistency, quality and yield. I’m excited about combining two leading technologies to create the system that will define the next generation of indoor agriculture.”
GroLoop is an integrated system of hardware, software and environmental controls designed for precision, automation and scalability across the entire farm network. The companies say the indoor farms using GroLoop use 100% renewable electricity and 95% less water per pound of produce.
The companies say Soli Organic’s proprietary organic growing system complements GroLoop’s capabilities.
“GroLoop was built to adapt and scale across crops, climates and facility types,” says Tisha Livingston, co-founder of 80 Acres Farms and CEO of Infinite Acres, the company’s tech-focused subsidiary. “By combining it with Soli’s reach, experience and knowledge in agronomy, we’re able to move faster, work smarter and deliver more value across the entire supply chain.”
Mike Zelkind, co-founder of 80 Acres Farms and CEO of the combined company, says in a press release that vertical farming is entering the next phase of business maturity.
“Both companies have spent decades developing enhanced technology, improving operations and building winning brands,” Zelkind says. “Our value proposition is clear: fresher, better-tasting produce that’s pesticide- and heavy metal-free, locally grown, climate-resilient and built for shelf life.”
The companies also say the merger will benefit from strategic investments over the past 18 months — a salad dressing line from Reunion Foods, the Israeli biotech company Plantae Biosciences, and facilities and IP from vertical farming pioneer Kalera — that have strengthened its capabilities and prepared it for further growth.
“Retailers today want differentiated products, surety of supply, and a compelling story,” says Walter Robb, former co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, current co-chairman of Soli Organic, and a board member of the combined company. “Given recent trade volatility, indoor agriculture is playing an increasingly important role for retailers. The combined company checks all the boxes: great product quality, increased product portfolio, supply chain resilience and enhanced customer choice through both vertical farming and field-grown organic products.”
