UNFI to co-locate Square Roots indoor farms at distribution centers nationwide

Providence, R.I.-based United Natural Foods Inc. and New York-based indoor grower Square Roots have agreed to co-locate Square Roots’ indoor farms on-site at select UNFI distribution centers.

The first Square Roots farm, about 20,000 square feet, is planned for UNFI’s Prescott, Wis., facility and is scheduled to open in 2023, according to a news release.

UNFI is a grocery wholesaler delivering fresh, branded and owned-brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, e-commerce providers and foodservice customers.

“With this partnership, we can now bring local food, grown by local farmers, to UNFI’s network of retail customers and their shoppers, consistently and reliably, all year round. We can’t wait to get started,” Kimbal Musk, Square Roots co-founder and executive chairman,  said in the release.

As part of its Better For All initiative, UNFI is focused on building closer relationships with its produce suppliers to build an efficient, expansive, high-quality supply chain network designed to shorten the time it takes to deliver produce to retail customers. Produce from the first Square Roots farm co-located with UNFI is intended to serve UNFI’s retail customers in Wisconsin and Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metro area.

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“Today’s consumer is focused on the quality and freshness of their produce and relies on their local grocer to provide consistent access to high quality, locally grown food … that won’t spoil the day after they bring it home,” Dorn Wenninger, UNFI senior vice president of produce, said in the release.

This partnership also furthers UNFI’s environmental, social and governance initiatives, making progress on goals “to reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions and advance sustainable agriculture and operations,” Wenninger said.

Square Roots has a vertically integrated model for indoor hydroponic farming leafy greens, microgreens and herbs. The company can quickly deploy its modular, cloud-connected farms in any location on a small footprint. Crops are also harvested and packed inside the Square Roots facility, ready for distribution to customers the same day of harvest.

“Our unique approach to indoor farming is fully optimized to support forward-thinking, large-scale distribution partners like UNFI,” Square Roots co-founder and CEO Tobias Peggs said in the release.

This initiative can improve supply-chain resilience and reduces miles driven transporting food, he said.

All Square Roots farms are U.S. Department of Agriculture Harmonized GAP+ Certified for food safety. The USDA’s Harmonized GAP Plus+ is the audit service for organizations required to undergo a GFSI audit for market access, according to the USDA. Many retail, food service and institutional buyers require suppliers to do a food safety audit conducted against one of the GFSI-recognized certification programs. (GFSI means Global Food Safety Initiative.)

Square Roots’ fresh produce is available at retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, SpartanNash corporate stores, Meijer, Fresh Thyme Market, Busch’s Fresh Food Market, Fresh Direct, Getir and Gordon Food Service Stores.