Oishii Introduces “The Koyo Berry,” a New Strawberry Bursting with Sweetness

Available now via FreshDirect, The Koyo Berry joins the ever-popular Omakase Berry in Oishii’s offerings of exceptional vertically farmed strawberries that offer a flavor unlike any other.

JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY – February 23, 2023 – Today, vertical farming leader Oishii launched The Koyo Berry, the newest varietal grown by the beloved strawberry brand. The Koyo Berry will join the coveted Omakase Berry as Oishii’s second strawberry, bringing an entirely new flavor profile to the table. Each tray of Koyo Berries is non-GMO, pesticide free, perfectly ripe, and always-in-season. 

Meaning “elated” in Japanese, The Koyo Berry is a Japanese cultivar, traditionally grown just outside Tokyo during the winter months. The strawberry is marked by its refreshing sweetness, balanced acidity, fragrant aroma, and slightly firm texture. The nutrient-rich berries are grown hyper locally in Oishii’s state-of-the-art indoor vertical farms. Evoking sweet summer memories, The Koyo Berry is always picked at the peak of ripeness to excite even the most discerning fruit-lover.

“When we founded Oishii, we made a promise to set a new standard for how we enjoy produce. The Omakase Berry was an important first step in that journey, and today, we are so proud to introduce The Koyo Berry – which builds on our brand’s legacy for delivering clean, fresh strawberries that are unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before,” said Hiroki Koga, CEO and Co-Founder of Oishii. 

“Every bite of The Koyo Berry immediately transports me to a warm summer day – even though it’s the middle of winter in New York,” added Brendan Somerville, Oishii’s COO and CO-Founder. “I can’t wait for our customers to try these berries.”

Beginning today, The Koyo Berry is available via FreshDirect in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut for $15 MSRP for a tray. It will expand to other markets, including Los Angeles, later this year.

“Known for our valued vendor partnerships and quality fresh food, we’re excited to offer these delicious Koyo berries exclusively to our customers – whether they prefer the balanced brightness of The Koyo Berry or the delicate sweetness of The Omakase Berry.” said Mary Mitchell, Category Merchant, Produce at FreshDirect. “Each bite of The Koyo Berry delivers a refreshing zing and sweet finish which elevates the timeless strawberry flavor.” 

Oishii introduced its first strawberry – The Omakase Berry – in 2018, which quickly caught the attention of Michelin-starred chefs, tastemakers, and consumers for its sweetness, aroma, and creamy texture. Priced between $6-$20 MSRP depending on tray size, The Omakase Berry now retails at Whole Foods Market, among other grocery purveyors. 

The company currently operates three indoor vertical farms – two outside of Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The brand recently opened its flagship Mugen Farm, a 74,000 square foot facility that introduced pioneering technology to make Oishii’s precision growing process even more efficient. Each harvest in the new farm relies on advanced robotics combined with traditional Japanese farming methods, using 60% less energy and 40% less water than first generation farms.

As the first vertical farming company to perfect the strawberry at commercial scale, Oishii harmoniously marries nature, technology, and farming techniques perfected for decades in Japan to grow its prized fruit, which is pollinated naturally with bees. 

The vertical farming innovator is also currently in development on new types of flowering produce.

About Oishii

Oishii (“delicious” in Japanese) is an innovative company transforming agriculture through vertical farming. The company is behind the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. Harmoniously marrying nature with technology, Oishii has recreated the elements—rain, air, heat, light, and nourishment—to preserve and embrace nature’s finest for the perfect fruit every time, all year round. Oishii is known for their Omakase Berry and Koyo Berry, special Japanese strawberries grown pesticide-free in the company’s vertical farms located just outside of Manhattan and in Culver City, California. Founded in 2016, Oishii’s investors include McWin, Bloom8, SPARX Group, Sony Innovation Fund, PKSHA Technology, and Social Starts. The company was recognized as one of Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” in 2022. For more information, visit www.oishii.com.