Vertical grower Bowery Farming launches first nongreen product: Strawberries
New York City-based indoor vertical grower Bowery Farming launched a two-variety pack of strawberries — the first commercial release beyond leafy greens and herbs for the ag-tech company.
The two cultivars are grown indoors and picked when ripe, according to a news release.
Bowery’s strawberry duo-pack is now in limited release in New York City at Italian specialty retailer Eataly NYC’s flatiron and downtown locations and Mercado Little Spain.
The company’s research and development team created the Garden Berry and Wild Berry varieties, which are also part of a limited-availability offering at Tom Colicchio’s Craft and José Andrés’ Leña and Spanish Diner inside Mercado Little Spain.
These strawberries are always in season and are a result of Bowery’s expert team, the controlled indoor growing environment and proprietary technology, Bowery Farming Founder and CEO Irving Fain said in the release.
“Strawberries are the first phase of a strategic road map focused on bringing unique and genetically diverse fruiting and vine crops to communities across the U.S. and eventually the globe,” Fain said.
Learn more about strawberries.
Grown locally, Bowery’s strawberries are part of a simplified, sustainable supply chain, traveling fewer food miles than traditional strawberries, according to the release. The company’s indoor smart farms can grow cultivars that don’t thrive outdoors or that thrive in other global climates by controlling all aspects of the grow environment, including light, water, temperature and nutrients.
These strawberries, pollinated by bees, offer a side-by-side tasting experience as part of Bowery’s new discovery retail pack, with a suggested price of $14.99 for the 8-ounce container.
The pack includes:
- Garden Berry: A summer berry with citrusy and sweet flavor notes, with a juicy, firm texture that pairs well with whipped cream or arugula salad with a peppery vinaigrette; and
- Wild Berry: A petite berry with concentrated bright, floral flavor, with a softer texture and smaller size that complements sharp cheddar, dark chocolate or a bitter cocktail.
Bowery’s strawberries will be available at various restaurant and retailers throughout the remainder of 2022.
The duo-pack of strawberries is the latest initiative in a long-term expansion plan.
In February 2022, Bowery acquired Traptic, a three-dimensional vision and robotics harvesting start-up company, to accelerate the commercialization of fruiting and vine crops, starting with strawberries.
Bowery’s product line of Protected Produce features 14 stock-keeping units, including a new category called Farmer’s Selection, a rotating line of next-generation greens (such as Mustard Frills and Baby Rabe). Other items include an iceberg lettuce version called Crispy Leaf, velvety and peppery arugula, and a smooth, crisp baby butter lettuce.
The company’s leafy greens are available in more than 1,000 retail stores in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, including Whole Foods Market, Giant Food, Wakefern, Albertsons and Walmart. Bowery closed a $300 million Series C equity round and doubled its revenue in 2021, according to the release.
Also, the company has three new commercial farms under construction in the Atlanta and Dallas metropolitan areas, including a new farm opening in Bethlehem, Pa., later this spring.
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