Agreements to expand distribution of AeroFarms microgreens

Indoor vertical farming leader AeroFarms is expanding distribution of its microgreens through agreements with produce wholesaler and distributor S. Katzman Produce and retailer H Mart.

AeroFarms’ products can now be found at around 2,000 locations throughout the U.S., including major retailers Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and The Fresh Market, according to a news release. The company is continuing to expand regionally through retailers including Walmart and Harris Teeter.

“AeroFarms is recognized everywhere for its unique varieties and prized flavor, and we are excited to partner with fellow leading companies known for their innovation and produce expertise like S. Katzman Produce and H Mart,” Guy Blanchard, president and chief financial officer of AeroFarms, said in the release. “As we expand our commercial production to profitably meet customer demand, we are investing in key team members like our new plant manager in Danville Virginia, Josh Ballard, in order to service more of our customers across the country.”

Ballard will manage AeroFarms’ state-of-the-art commercial indoor vertical farm in Danville. Ballard has more than 30 years of operating experience and a black belt in advanced Six Sigma. He has worked with companies including Conagra Brands and AppHarvest, where he oversaw operations for four high-tech greenhouses.

AeroFarms’ indoor vertical farming operations are certified for USDA Good Agricultural Practices, SQF Level 2 Good Manufacturing Practices, Non-GMO Project Verification, OU Kosher and the CEA Food Safety Seal.

“We are always looking for new products that will help our customers grow,” said Stefanie Katzman, executive vice president at S. Katzman Produce. “We see a lot of potential with the microgreens category and are impressed by the ingenuity that AeroFarms has demonstrated through its growing process, marketing approach and flavorful, high-quality product. By launching with AeroFarms, we plan to get consumers even more excited about microgreens and help our retail customers grow their produce departments.”