Vertically-Grown Plenty Greens Arrive Exclusively at Bristol Farms
Leafy greens grown vertically by Plenty Unlimited Inc. will be sold exclusively at Southern California-based specialty grocer Bristol Farms outside of local markets.
First covered by Store Brands sister publication Progressive Grocer, this is the first time that Bristol Farms has offered indoor vertically grown produce. The Plenty greens will be exclusive to the retailer for the rest of the year.
The greens sold at Bristol Farms will initially come from Plenty’s South San Francisco farm, but will soon shift to local greens from Compton. The greens are now available in the produce department’s packaged greens area at all Bristol Farms locations throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Santa Barbara counties. Bristol Farms operates 14 stores in the region.
“At Bristol Farms, we pride ourselves on being the go-to shop for the best-tasting, freshest produce items on the market,” said Scott Wiggans, produce director for Carson, Calif.-based Bristol Farms. “Plenty is a great example of a mission-driven brand that is focused on unique agricultural innovation. This makes them a great fit for Bristol Farms. For the last 40 years, we have been leading the industry in providing our customers with the highest-quality and most flavorful products available, and we look forward to bringing local indoor vertical farming to our customers.”
Plenty’s pesticide-free leafy greens consist of such selections as Baby Arugula, Baby Kale, Crispy Lettuce and Mizuna Mix, the last a unique blend of baby bok choy and Japanese mustard greens.
According to Plenty, its patented and patent-pending platform uses a fraction of the land and water to produce up to 350 times more produce per acre than conventional farms. The company operates the largest-of-its-kind indoor plant science research facility in Laramie, Wyo., and is currently constructing what it describes as the world’s most advanced vertical, indoor farm in Compton and the world’s largest indoor vertical farm campus near Richmond, Va.