Kroger has partnered with urban farming network Infarm, in a move that will bring modular living produce farms to its stores in North America.
The partnership offers a vertical farming solution and marks the first-of-its-kind in the US.
Infarm offers an alternative food system that uses hydroponic technology, resulting in produce grown on site at the participating QFC stores.
Its solution removes the need for extended transportation and storage, as well as producing a more eco-conscious product and providing shoppers with the ‘freshest and most sustainable living produce options available’.
Erez Galonska, CEO and co-founder at Infarm, said: “We want to make fresh, pure, tasty and nutritious produce available and affordable for everyone.
“Kroger’s commitment to innovation, quality and flavour makes them the perfect partner with which to launch our business in the United States and for the first time in North America.”
The living produce farms will be designed to scale and will launch this month at two of the 15 stores planned at QFC, at locations in Bellevue, Kirkland and Washington.
“Kroger believes that everyone deserves to have access to fresh, affordable and delicious food, no matter who you are, how you shop or what you like to eat,” said Suzy Monford, Kroger’s group vice president of fresh.
Monford added: “Our partnership with Infarm allows us to innovate by combining ground-breaking in-store farming technology with our passion for fresh, local produce and ecological sourcing. Kroger is excited to be first to market and offer the best of the season, and we’re proud to lead the US on this journey.”
Earlier this year the supermarket chain announced plans to standardise date labels for its Our Brands food products to provide clearer guidance to its customers to reduce household food waste. The change was part of Kroger’s Zero Hunger, Zero Waste social impact commitment.
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