Oishii

How Oishii Berry Brought Japan’s Most Expensive Strawberries to America | Eater

"A pioneering indoor vertical strawberry farm in the U.S. that aims to produce consistently optimal berries through meticulous, seed-to-packaging control. The team tests over 20 micro-environments and propagates seedlings based on results, replicates the climate of the Japanese Alps, and enforces five levels of sanitization before entry; berries ripen in 30–40 days and are harvested at peak ripeness by highly trained staff. Each fruit is delicately cut, visually inspected for bruising, weighed, and documented, with bruised fruit diverted to restaurants for purees and sauces; harvested berries are cold-packaged and subjected to a BRIC test (the farm’s berries measure about 12 BRICS versus the typical 4–7). The operation is also the first vertical farm to successfully control bees in a fully closed environment so they can pollinate naturally, and while the technology is expensive, it reduces reliance on changing climates, avoids harsh outdoor labor conditions, and delivers consistent size, flavor, and texture." - Terri Ciccone