US-based vertical farming company Eden Green Technology has released a new fresh produce line which it hopes could be stocked on retailers’ shelves the same day it is picked.
Called Crisply, the pesticide-, herbicide- and chemical-free range will be available in Walmart stores in Texas as of next month.
Eden Green said it aims offer freshly picked produce, grown locally at “next-generation” vertical farms on a large scale.
The company’s technology encloses each plant in a microclimate bubble, which is monitored and optimised for growth and mitigating contamination. Engineers Jacques and Eugene van Buuren, who initially built their first greenhouse in South Africa, created the technology.
Jaco Booyens, co-chair of Eden Green Technology
Eden Green expects to grow 10 to 15 harvests a year, compared to an average of two harvests for conventional, soil-based farms. Its technology enables plants to feed on a continuous flow of nutrient-filled water and natural sunlight, instead of LED lights.
The first Crisply produce line includes multiple lettuce, greens and herb varietals. Crisply will also offer fresh stevia leaves in a sweet salad blend. The produce is planted, picked and packed at the same facility.
Eden Green co-chair Jaco Booyens said: “We are elated to make fresh, handpicked greens available to everyone who wants to eat high-quality, nutrient-rich produce without spending an entire paycheck.
“We pick our produce, package the same day, and stamp the date when they are harvested on the package so consumers know exactly how fresh their salads are. We also make it possible for our retail partners to put our produce on their shelves immediately after they’ve been harvested, in some cases that same day.”
Eden Green CEO Trey Thomas said: “Eden Green Technology intends to put premium produce at accessible prices on grocery shelves as well as donate fresh produce regularly to food banks so they can be distributed to areas that have long been considered food deserts.”
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