New facility poised to expand Edible Garden’s Midwest distribution

Controlled environment agriculture producer Edible Garden has purchased a 6.2-acre facility in Iowa that will increase its production, distribution and research and development capabilities.

The facility in Webster City, Iowa, was secured through a purchase of select assets from NaturalShrimp Farms, according to a news release.

Edible Garden operates greenhouses and processing facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Belvidere, New Jersey. The company’s network of contract growers in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West Coast provides locally grown, cut and packed fresh lettuce and organic herbs

The Iowa facility features advanced aquaculture infrastructure, fully equipped laboratories and climate-controlled growing environments, according to the release. Edible Garden plans expand herb production, accelerate clean-label nutraceutical development and conduct aquaculture R&D utilizing patented water treatment technologies included in the acquisition.

The facility will also serve as a Midwest warehousing and distribution hub.

“The launch of Edible Garden-Prairie Hills marks a pivotal step in our mission to reshape sustainable food production,” Edible Garden CEO Jim Kras said in the release. “This expansion strengthens our vertically integrated model and provides a high-tech platform to expand our herb and nutraceutical lines, pilot next-generation aquaculture technologies, and reinforce our commitment to Zero-Waste Inspired farming. Importantly, it positions us to better serve our network of over 5,000 retail locations across the U.S. with greater efficiency while driving forward innovation in a cost-effective, environmentally responsible manner.”