United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), is a natural foods distributor and a major supplier to other places such as Whole Foods, and they have entered a partnership with an indoor farming company called Square Roots.
The first of these farms will be around 20,000 square feet and it'll be located at UNFI’s facility in Prescott, Wisconsin.
It's supposed to open in 2023 and it will serve customers in Wisconsin and Minnesota, including that state’s heavily populated Twin Cities area.
The move is a part of UNFI’s Better For All effort, which aims to integrate food supply chains in a way that will foster better and closer relationships between suppliers and distributors.
Square Roots uses the highest in growth technology in order to grow leafy greens, various herbs, and micro greens, in its indoor, hydroponic farms. This technology is able to grow food using less water than is typical in traditional farming methods. Additionally, it's verified as pesticide-free and aligns with the Non-GMO Project. Proprietary software is currently being used to manage all aspects of growth, which is occurring year-round.
“Our unique approach to indoor farming is fully optimized to support forward-thinking, large-scale distribution partners like UNFI. t’s good business, and it’s also better for people and the planet," said Square Roots co-founder and CEO Tobias Peggs.
