Plenty adds Whole Foods Market and Gelson’s Markets to roster of California stores

Indoor, vertical greens grower Plenty Unlimited has expanded its California footprint to include all Gelson’s Markets and Whole Foods Market stores located in the Golden State. According to a news release, this expansion will double the grower’s retail presence.

"We’ve been big supporters of Plenty since we first started carrying their greens in our Bay Area stores back in 2020. We’re thrilled to be making Plenty’s produce available to all of our California shoppers,” Eric Cusimano, produce category manager for Whole Foods Market, said in the release. 

Plenty's indoor farm facility in Compton, Calif., opened in May this year. The indoor farm is now ramping up production to grow an estimated 4.5 million pounds of leafy greens annually to supply increased demand, according to the release.

“Opening Plenty’s first commercial-scale farm in Compton makes it possible for us to provide California retailers with a reliable supply of fresh leafy greens year-round,” Dana Worth, Plenty’s senior vice president of commercial, said in the release. “From expanding our presence in Whole Foods Market to bringing new, leading California retailers like Gelson’s on board, we’re giving more consumers access to regional produce that is grown clean."

The grower says it cultivates its leafy greens in a high-tech controlled environment agriculture facility without the use of pesticides or bleach. In addition to its Compton farm, Plenty operates a vertical farming research center in Laramie, Wyo., and is building an indoor strawberry vertical farm in partnership with Driscoll’s near Richmond, Va., with an opening date slated for 2024.

Related news: Driscoll's heads to Virginia to grow strawberries in world's largest indoor vertical farm

Whole Foods Market and Gelson’s Markets will sell four varieties of leafy greens grown at Plenty’s Compton farm, which include baby arugula, crispy lettuce, baby kale and curly baby spinach leafy, according to the release.

"Over the past 70 years, Gelson's has earned a reputation as one of the premier supermarket chains in the country, in part because of our dedication to offering superior produce,” Paul Kneeland, Gelson’s Markets senior vice president, said in the release. “Plenty makes it possible for us to provide our Southern California shoppers with delicious, locally grown greens all year long, thanks to their advanced technology that brings out its best natural flavor.” 

Related news: Plenty unveils its first commercial farm in Compton

The Compton farm’s increased production is not only powering the expansion of Plenty’s California retail footprint to Gelson’s Markets and Whole Foods Market stores, but also includes  all California-based Bristol Farms locations, totaling more than 180 retail stores across the Golden State, according to the release.

Additionally, Plenty's leafy greens are also available online through e-commerce channels such as Good Eggs, Imperfect Foods, Instacart, Misfits Market and Whole Foods Market, the release said.