KEARNY, New Jersey — Inside of a warehouse in this factory town neighboring Newark, thousands of strawberries grow in rows beneath bright lights.

Bowery Farming is using this research-development center to develop berries that will be used in the Big City.

Beginning Tuesday, fruit will be available for purchase less than 12 miles from customers at several New York City Gourmet Grocers. Stars will be featured in some of New York’s most acclaimed restaurants, created by famous chefs.

Bowery will be selling strawberries as part of a limited edition. These berries taste exactly the same in summer as they do in winter. They are part of an ambitious initiative to transform how vegetables and fruits are grown. Vertical farms grow crops in rows that are stacked from floor to ceiling within buildings close to urban centers. It results in greater yields, which means that produce is fresher and more nutritious. Produce will be delivered directly to grocery stores within the city just a few hours after being picked.

The tech-based vertical farming approach has been used by companies to grow lettuce and herbs. To win more grocers’ and consumer’s hearts, the vertical farming companies are now exploring strawberries and other crops. They will initially be more costly than average supermarket offerings. Indoor-farming businesses hope to increase their production and to use automation to harvest the fruits, which may bring down prices.

Plenty, Bowery’s competitor, stated Tuesday that it is building an indoor strawberry plant to supply customers and retailers in Northeastern with Driscoll’s, the major Northeast berry grower. BrightFarms, PlantLab, and AeroFarms are also venture-backed competitors.

Christine Zimmermann Loessl is the chairperson of the Association for Vertical Farming. She stated that companies need to prove their ability to grow many different fruits and vegetables in order for them be a meaningful component of the food supply.

Zimmermann who is the founder of the advocacy and nonprofit group based in Munich, Germany, said, “With salad you cannot feed the whole world.” “Nobody can consume that many salads.”

Bowery also wants food to be more tasty.

Bowery’s senior vice-president of agscience, Susan MacIsaac said, “Imagine a fresh, delicious, flavorful strawberry in February.” It really opens up new ways, new possibilities for eating. Although we know that we should eat more fruits, vegetables, they can often be less than delicious.

Investors pouring moneyAt a time where food availability and price are more important than ever, it is a good idea to invest in agriculture technology businesses.

Inflation has pushed up food prices by 7.9%The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has provided data for the 12 most recent months reported this month. Some grocery shelves were left empty by the pandemic, which highlighted the complexity of the supply chain. Recent weeks have seen an increase in supply chain complexity. Russia’s invasion of UkraineIt has shown the risk of being dependent on another country to grow energy or food.

Soren, President of Driscoll’s Americas, said that “Look at what the past two years have shown us, how many disruptions are we facing in our everyday lives.” The climate and freedom of movement around the world are crucial for the fresh produce industry. Some supply chains are a lot more vulnerable than people thought. And it is not difficult to imagine how these problems could worsen.

Vertical farming is a way to grow produce without pesticides in less time and at farms close enough for consumers. This means that a smaller truck is needed to transport the produce. It also reduces fuel consumption and allows consumers to eat fresher foods and throw away less.

The advocates of vertical agriculture see it as an environmentally friendly way to grow food supply and feed a growing population. This is especially true as the climate changes are transforming weather patterns.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture farms make up a small percentage of American produce. The definition covers tomatoes and other vegetables found in supermarkets such as sweet corn, broccoli and carrots. It does not cover corn that has been fed to animals, or is used as a food ingredient in products such as tortilla chips.

In 2019, the total vegetable production and sales was $18.9 trillion. Within that, the total value of vegetables grown under protection and sold — a category that includes greenhouses and areas grown under temporary covers — was roughly $702.5 million in 2019, the most recent agriculture census available. The federal government does not track vertical farming, so it is only a small portion.

However, some of the largest names in food have already shown support for the new industry. WalmartAccording to revenue,, is the largest grocery store in the country. recently invested in PlentyIt also carries Bowery’s leafy leaves in its shops.

Bowery has among its investors famous chefs Jose Andres and Tom Colicchio.

On Singapore Airlines, passengers this spring in first and business classes departing Newark and New York City can find baby bok choy and arugula that accompany their meals from AeroFarms, which grows them about 5 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline began buying produce from AeroFarms in 2019.

Singapore Airlines spokesperson said that the carrier will announce agreements with other vertical farmers later in the year, for flights departing from major U.S. airports. This airline operates the longest flight in the world and is looking for ways to cut its carbon footprint. 

Yet Bowery said it wants to scale its strawberry business, so they are sold not only to foodies — but also to shoppers at mainstream grocery stores. The retailers that carry its lettuces include Walmart, AmazonWhole Foods and Other Businesses Owned by the Company Albertsons.

According to the company, the commercial phase is just beginning with the launch of the new pack. It stated that the company is moving on to its scale phase and that it aims to sell strawberries at a value and price that allows for scale, without compromising flavor.

Bowery purchased Traptic last month. It uses high-powered cameras and artificial intelligence to determine the peak ripeness of crops. The robotic arm can also harvest delicate fruits such as tomatoes and strawberries.

Arama Kukutai, chief executive officer of Plenty, stated that Plenty’s first strawberry farm will open by 2023. He said that the company is working closely with Driscoll’s to get its berries sold at grocers by early 2024. The exact location has not been shared.

In 2020, the two companies formed a joint venture for development and production of berries. Plenty currently has no commercial farms outside of California. This will allow them to expand their geographic reach. So far, Plenty and Driscoll’s have grown strawberries in an indoor plant science research facility in Laramie, Wyoming — but have not sold them.

Bjorn from Driscoll’s stated that the Northeast was one of the biggest berry markets in the country, making it a good place to begin. Yet he said the approach would work well in other major markets, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Hong Kong, where consumers have a big appetite for berries — but rely on pricey shipments from far away.

According to him, strawberries make a great puzzle for vertical farming. These delicate fruits flourish in very few areas, including the California coast and Chile as well as the French Alps foothills. To get the perfect flavor and texture, they rely on changing temperatures such as cooler nights or warmer days. The fruit loses its flavor if it becomes too warm or humid.

He stated, “In the indoor setting, every day could be perfect.” That is just one opportunity.

–CNBC’s Leslie JosephsThis story was contributed by you.