On February 23, vertical farming leader Oishii launched Koyo Berry, the 2023 novelty of the now-famous strawberry brand.
Koyo Berry joins the coveted Omakase Berry as Oishii's second strawberry, bringing a whole new flavor profile to the table. Each tray of Koyo Berry is non-GMO, pesticide-free, perfectly ripe and always in season.
Koyo Berry-in Japanese Koyo means "euphoric"-is a Japanese cultivar traditionally grown just outside Tokyo during the winter months. The strawberry is distinguished by its refreshing sweetness, balanced acidity, fragrant aroma and slightly firm texture. The nutrient-rich berries are grown on-site in Oishii's state-of-the-art indoor vertical farms. Evoking sweet summer memories, Koyo Berries are always picked at peak ripeness to thrill even the most discerning fruit lovers.
"When we founded Oishii, we promised to set a new standard for product tasting. The Omakase Berry was an important first step in this journey, and today we are very proud to introduce the Koyo Berry, which builds on our brand's legacy of offering fresh, clean strawberries unlike anything you have ever tasted before," said Hiroki Koga, CEO and co-founder of Oishii.
"Every bite of The Koyo Berry immediately transports me to a warm summer day, even though it's the middle of winter in New York," added Brendan Somerville, COO and co-founder of Oishii. "I can't wait for our customers to try these berries."
Starting today, Koyo Berry are available through FreshDirect in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at a list price of $15 for a tray. It will expand to other markets later this year, including Los Angeles.
"Known for our valuable supplier partnerships and quality fresh foods, we are thrilled to offer these delicious Koyo berries exclusively to our customers, whether they prefer the balanced brightness of The Koyo Berry or the delicate sweetness of The Omakase Berry," said Mary Mitchell, Category Merchant, FreshDirect's Produce. "Each bite of Koyo Berry offers a refreshing note and a sweet finish that enhances the timeless flavor of strawberry."
Oishii introduced its first strawberry-The Omakase Berry-in 2018, which quickly caught the attention of star chefs, tasters, and consumers for its sweetness, aroma, and creamy texture. Priced between $6 and $20 dollars, depending on the size of the tray, The Omakase Berry is now on sale at Whole Foods Market, among other food retailers.
The company currently operates three indoor vertical farms, two outside Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The brand recently opened Mugen Farm, a 74,000-square-foot facility that introduced cutting-edge technology to make Oishii's precision farming process even more efficient. Each crop on the new farm is based on advanced robotics combined with traditional Japanese farming methods, using 60 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than first-generation farms.
The first vertical farming company to perfect the strawberry on a commercial scale, Oishii harmoniously combines nature, technology and agricultural techniques perfected for decades in Japan to grow its prized fruit, pollinated naturally by bees.
Sources: Blue Book Services
