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Oishii closes $150 million in Series C financing by FreshPlaza

Posted on by Christian

Oishii

Oishii closes $150 million in Series C financing

Oishii, the company behind the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm, today announced the first closing of $150 million in Series C financing led by SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd., with participation from Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., MISUMI Group Inc., Mizuho Bank Ltd., and others.

The financing reflects confidence in Oishii’s indoor Smart Farm™ model, which integrates robotics, automation, and advanced technology with centuries-old Japanese farming techniques, as the company increases production, advances farm operations, and broadens retail access to its pesticide-free, non-GMO strawberries, which are grown year-round and harvested at peak ripeness.


While the vertical farming sector has cooled in recent years, Oishii has continued to gain momentum through a more focused approach to scale, using robotics and automation, broader consumer access, and continued technology innovation to differentiate itself within the category. Oishii has expanded its distribution across 18 states, launched in Toronto as its first international retail market, introduced new retail formats and product offerings, and is now advancing its R&D capabilities in Japan through the development of its first-of-its-kind Open Innovation Center in Tokyo.

Robotics and automation have become central to Oishii’s approach to scaling strawberry production with greater consistency, precision, and quality control. Following the acquisition of Tortuga AgTech in 2025, the company expanded those capabilities with additional harvesting robotics and engineering expertise. Earlier this year, Oishii also announced a strategic partnership with MISUMI Group Inc., a global supplier of manufacturing and automation components, to support its growing automation and manufacturing needs across the U.S. and Japan.

“Since our Series A investment in 2019, we have continuously supported Oishii Farm’s growth. It is truly inspiring to see the vision we shared at that time steadily becoming a reality, as the company advances seamlessly from research and development to proof of concept and commercialization,” said Shuhei Abe, President & CEO of SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd. “One of the company’s key strengths lies in its exceptional execution capability, which has enabled rapid technological advancement. As Oishii Farm enters a new phase with the establishment of its Open Innovation Center in Japan, we look forward to continuing to support its growth.”

Oishii has also expanded beyond its original ultra-premium positioning into a more flexible retail business with broader consumer reach. Since launching the Omakase Berry at nearly $50 per tray in 2018, the company has added the Koyo Berry and Nikko Berry and introduced new pack sizes and retail formats designed for more everyday purchasing, with offerings today spanning $4.99 to $15. Its new Premium Preserves line also extends the brand beyond fresh berries into an elevated range of pantry staples.

The Nikko Berry, introduced in 2025, has also become a strong proof point for how Oishii applies demand, retail, and production insight to product innovation. Earlier this year, the company introduced its innovative stay-fresh top-seal packaging for the Nikko Berry, advancing a new approach to strawberry packaging focused on freshness, shelf life, and retail scalability while reducing plastic usage by 80% compared to traditional clamshell packaging.

Together, these milestones show Oishii entering a new phase of maturity and growth, scaling its differentiated model to expand production, reach more consumers, and help define the next phase of indoor vertical farming.

“When we chose strawberries, we knew we were selecting one of the hardest paths in indoor farming,” said Hiroki Koga, Co-Founder and CEO of Oishii. “They require precision at every stage, from pollination and harvesting to freshness and shelf life, and there were moments along the way where solving one challenge revealed the next one underneath it. This funding marks a new phase for Oishii as we scale what we’ve built, with deeper confidence in the decisions we’ve made and the role we can play in bringing high-quality produce to more people.’

With the first closing of Series C financing, Oishii plans to increase production capacity, advance robotics integration, expand farm infrastructure, and develop new product formats within its Smart Farm model, while continuing to invest in R&D and innovation capabilities across the United States and Japan.

Oishii has raised a total of $370M since its founding in 2016.

For more information:
Oishii
Hiroki Koga, Co-Founder and CEO
contact@oishii.com
www.oishii.com

“Instead of functioning purely as individual packs, the trays form part of a geometric structure” AVI Global Plast and Smart Packaging Industries collaborate on new packaging design by FreshPlaza

Posted on by Christian

AVI Global Plast and Smart Packaging Industries collaborate on new packaging design

“Instead of functioning purely as individual packs, the trays form part of a geometric structure”

Blueberry harvests are subject to one of the most demanding supply chains in fresh produce, says Sukhdeep Sethi, managing director of packaging manufacturer AVI Global Plast: “After harvesting, berries must be kept cool, packaged, and shipped using temperature-controlled logistics for optimal distribution. Packaging therefore needs to protect delicate fruit while also using transport space as efficiently as possible. Yet once conventional, clamshell rPET-punnets are filled and stacked into cartons, significant gaps remain between packs. Industry estimates suggest that in many palletized shipments close to half of the available transport space can consist of empty air rather than fruit.”

“This inefficiency largely stems from the design of traditional containers,” Sethi continues. “Most punnets are tapered, so that empty packs can nest together when transported from packaging factories to packhouses. Once fruit is packed inside them, the same geometry leaves voids between containers when cartons are stacked on pallets. For exporters moving blueberries across long distances, these gaps reduce pallet efficiency and increase the total volume that must be transported and stored in refrigerated logistics systems.”

To solve this problem, AVI now introduces a new space-saving packaging system in India, Sethi explains: “The Q-Bic packaging concept, developed by Smart Packaging Industries, addresses the issue by rethinking how containers combine once they are filled and prepared for shipment. Instead of functioning purely as individual packs, the trays form part of a geometric structure, in which multiple units combine into compact cube formations. These cube units can then be stacked tightly inside cartons, reducing the empty space normally seen between conventional punnets.”

The impact becomes clearer when pallet density is considered, Sethi states. “Trials in commercial blueberry packing programs indicate that cube-based palletization can allow for approximately double the number of packs per pallet compared with conventional clamshell formats. In practical export logistics, this means that a large share of the ‘shipping of air’ typically present in conventional punnet pallets can be eliminated, often reducing pallet movements and refrigerated logistics volume by around 50%.”

Sethi adds that in addition to logistics efficiency, the cube-based structure also enables reductions in packaging materials across the supply chain: “The improved structural geometry allows optimization of the consumer pack (C-pack) in rPET, while the tighter pallet configuration reduces the amount of corrugated cardboard required for secondary packaging and distribution cases, with reductions of up to 59% in corrugated board usage observed in 125g blueberry formats.”

“The rPET clamshell punnets incorporate ventilation channels that allow airflow through palletized packs, supporting cooling performance during storage and shipment,” Sethi goes on. “Structural stability is another factor influencing fruit protection. Standard plastic punnets often take stacking stress on their top lid or rim. As a result, they can be damaged by compression due to uneven loads during transport. Combining rPET clamshell punnets together in cube formations distributes loads across a larger structural framework. The cube geometry transfers forces across three axes and six directions within the structure, rather than concentrating compression on the lid or rim of individual packs. This helps stabilize pallet stacks while decreasing the likelihood of damaged berries.”

According to Sethi, higher packing densities also affect how products move through the distribution chain. “Each pallet holds more product than before; therefore, fewer pallets travel through packing plants, cold storage facilities, and distribution centers. This reduces the number of loading and unloading processes necessary in the supply chain. In large blueberry export programs, improvements in pallet utilization have been associated with logistics and storage reductions of around 50%, reflecting the more efficient movement of fruit through refrigerated distribution systems.”

Transport efficiency is closely linked to the environmental footprint of fresh produce distribution, Sethi emphasizes. “Refrigerated transport and cold storage account for a substantial share of emissions in global produce supply chains. By combining higher pallet density with lower material consumption in both rPET consumer packs and corrugated distribution cases, the overall packaging and logistics system becomes significantly more resource efficient. Industry assessments suggest that improvements in packing efficiency and material reduction at this scale can contribute to emission reductions exceeding 40% in packaging and transport operations.”

For more information:
Sukhdeep Sethi
AVI Global Plast
sethi@avigloplast.com
https://avigloplast.com Publication date: Wed 11 Mar 2026

U.S. study links wild blueberries to vascular and metabolic health by Real Simple and FreshPlaza

Posted on by Christian

U.S. study links wild blueberries to vascular and metabolic health

Research on wild blueberries indicates potential effects on vascular function and other health markers, according to a study published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

Wild blueberries differ from cultivated blueberries in size, composition, and growing conditions. They are smaller and grow naturally in northern climates and acidic soils, while cultivated blueberries are grown in planted rows and tend to be larger.

Elizabeth Huggins, registered dietitian nutritionist at Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort & Spa, explained that wild blueberries are smaller and have a different flavor profile than cultivated blueberries. Lindsay Malone, registered dietitian and instructor of nutrition at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, noted that the smaller size results in a higher skin-to-flesh ratio. “Most of the polyphenols live in the skin, so you get more antioxidants per bite,” she said.

Tricia Scott-Sahler, oncology dietitian at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, said the growing environment contributes to their composition. “Unlike cultivated blueberries, which are planted and grown in rows, wild blueberries grow in harsh northern climates and have adapted to thrive in thin, acidic soils,” she said. “This resilience has led to some remarkable nutritional advantages.”

Research has focused on anthocyanins, pigments responsible for the fruit’s color. Scott-Sahler said these compounds can occur at higher concentrations in wild blueberries. “Wild blueberries have a higher concentration of a specific type of antioxidant called anthocyanins, which are the pigments that give them their deep blue color,” she said.

The study evaluated the potential effects of wild blueberry consumption on several health indicators. Sarah A. Johnson, associate professor at Florida State University and lead author of the study, said the results suggest possible effects on vascular function. “Overall, the research suggests that consuming wild blueberries can support vascular function, particularly by helping blood vessels relax and widen to promote healthy blood flow,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that results varied across studies examining other health indicators. “For other outcomes such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose (sugar) control, and related metabolic measures, results were mixed across studies, although some findings indicate potential benefits.”

Previous research cited in the study also examined cognitive performance in older adults. Johnson noted that findings in this area are still being evaluated. “Emerging research has explored potential roles for wild blueberries in areas such as cognitive performance, mood, and other aspects of mental well-being, including studies in children and older adults,” she said. “While these findings are promising, continued research is needed.”

Researchers also noted that both wild and cultivated blueberries contain fiber, vitamins, and polyphenols. Malone said both forms contribute nutrients associated with gut health and other dietary outcomes.

Source: Real Simple

Frontpage photo: © Andrii Klemenchenko | Dreamstime