United Natural Foods and Square Roots to Co-locate Indoor Farms at Distribution Centers Across North America
United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) has partnered with Square Roots to establish on-site indoor farms at select UNFI distribution centers, beginning with a 20,000 square foot facility in Prescott, Wisconsin, slated to open in 2023. This initiative aims to enhance supply chain efficiency, delivering fresher produce to retailers in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The farms will utilize an advanced hydroponic system, ensuring pesticide-free and Non-GMO produce, while supporting UNFI’s sustainability goals by reducing transportation emissions and waste.
- Partnership with Square Roots enhances supply chain efficiency.
- First indoor farm to boost freshness of produce delivered to retailers.
- Supports UNFI's sustainability initiatives by reducing emissions and waste.
- None.
Square Roots to grow food on-site at UNFI facilities, eliminating lengthy supply chains and giving back days of freshness to UNFI customers year round
Square Roots has pioneered a vertically integrated model for indoor farming, and can deploy its modular, cloud-connected farms in any location on a small footprint at quick speed to create optimal conditions to consistently grow fresh produce throughout the year. The first Square Roots farm, approximately 20,000 square feet in size, is planned for UNFI’s
As part of its Better For All initiative, UNFI is focused on building closer relationships with its produce suppliers to build an efficient, expansive, high-quality supply chain network designed to shorten the time it takes to deliver produce to retail customers. Produce from the first Square Roots farm co-located with UNFI is intended to serve UNFI's retail customers in
“Today’s consumer is focused on the quality and freshness of their produce and relies on their local grocer to provide consistent access to high quality, locally grown food, all year round that won’t spoil the day after they bring it home,” said
Square Roots has pioneered a vertically integrated model for indoor farming, and can deploy its modular, cloud-connected farms in any location on a small footprint at quick speed to create optimal conditions to consistently grow fresh produce throughout the year. Crops are also harvested and packed inside the Square Roots facility, ready for distribution to customers the same day of harvest.
“Our unique approach to indoor farming is fully optimized to support forward-thinking, large-scale distribution partners like UNFI,” says Square Roots co-founder and CEO,
Square Roots farms utilize an ultra-efficient hydroponic system to grow a wide range of leafy greens, microgreens, and herbs, using significantly less water and land than conventional field farms. Square Roots produce is pesticide-free and
“Whether we’re learning lessons from COVID-19, or considering the future impact of climate change, it’s clear that we need more resilience in our food system,” said Square Roots co-founder and Executive Chairman
About UNFI
UNFI is
About Square Roots
Square Roots is the technology leader in indoor farming with a mission to responsibly bring its locally grown food to people in cities around the world, all year round. Square Roots is setting new standards for transparency and responsibility, while training a new generation of leaders in agriculture to create a more sustainable food system. Founded by serial entrepreneurs,
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