One of the largest vertical farm operators, Plenty, has entered into a development partnership with Driscoll’s (a leading supplier of berries) to grow strawberries year-round. The partnership is expected to create a strong competitive edge, as it allows Plenty to access Driscoll’s proprietary genetics and berries expertise in its controlled-environment vertical farm, to optimize for flavor, texture, and size. 

The partnership is expected to allow the companies to expand into more regions in the future, including those with an unfavorable growing environment for strawberries.

The strawberries will initially be grown in Plenty’s R&D farm in Laramie, Wyoming - claimed to be the largest privately-owned R&D vertical farm globally.

Founded in 2014, Plenty Unlimited operates a commercial vertical farm in South San Francisco and a small research and development (R&D) farm in Laramie, WY. Plenty also plans to expand by opening another commercial farm in Compton, LA. The company sells greens and herbs (e.g. mixed greens, baby kale and arugula) to nearby restaurants and grocery stores in the Bay area, as well as online (Amazon Prime, Good Eggs, and Instacart).