There’s a reason strawberries inspire so much nostalgia. A truly ripe berry is bright, sweet, and fragrant — a reminder of summer. But in Michigan, where winters are long and the growing season for strawberries ends with the first frost, the perfect bite can feel out of reach most of the year. Shoppers often settle for out-of-season fruit that doesn’t quite hit the spot.
Oishii is changing that. The New Jersey-based company pairs centuries-old Japanese fruit traditions with cutting-edge indoor farming technology to grow luscious, sustainable berries year-round without pesticides or GMOs. After successful launches in New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C., Oishii is now coming to Southeast Michigan to further its mission of making delicious produce accessible to everyone.
Oishii was founded in 2016, after Hiroki Koga came to the United States for graduate school and missed the taste of his favorite strawberries in Japan. He partnered up with Brendan Somerville, a former U.S. Marine Intelligence Officer, who was an expert in solving problems in the agriculture industry — and Oishii’s first farms were born. Their berries are grown using a method known as vertical farming, where crops are planted in stacked, vertical rows.
“Our advanced, climate-controlled farms recreate the perfect conditions for our plants to thrive,” said Hiroki Koga, CEO and Co-founder of Oishii. “Since there are never storms or extreme weather conditions, every day is actually a perfect day for our berries!”
Each plant starts its life as a seedling nurtured in Oishii’s in-house propagation lab. Once transferred to the company’s state-of-the-art smart farms, they’re cared for in an environment that’s carefully maintained by nature and technology. A team of expert farmers uses time-honored Japanese growing techniques, and artificial intelligence closely monitors factors like temperature, humidity, light, windspeed, and even the number of pollinating bees. Robotic arms only harvest berries at peak ripeness, ensuring a delicious tray every time.
The Koyo Berry (meaning “elated” in Japanese) originates outside of Tokyo. It offers a delicate texture and a clean, bright finish. Oishii Berries are grown to peak ripeness before being harvested, and many customers remark on their rich, fragrant smell.
You’ll find Oishii Berries on the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., but they’re just as satisfying at home. Pair them with yogurt for breakfast, use them to decorate a cake, or simply eat them right out of the tray — because they’re grown without pesticides or GMOs, they don’t need to be washed.
Sustainability is at the heart of Oishii’s mission. Its vertical farms recycle water, rely on solar power, and reduce food miles by growing closer to customers. The company has been recognized with the coveted Butterfly Seal from the Non-GMO Project, one of the most trusted clean food labels in the food industry.
Find Oishii Berries at select locations of Westborn Market, Plum Market, Village Market, and Randazzo’s Fresh Market in Southeast Michigan. Learn more and find a store near you at oishii.com.
https://oishii.com/pages/michigan
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