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By Editor, Global AgInvesting Media
Vertical farming pioneer Oishii has announced the first closing of its $150 million Series C financing round. This latest capital injection marks a transition into a mature phase of commercial growth for the company, which operates the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. According to its press release, the funding will be utilized to ramp up production capacity, optimize automation infrastructure, and widen retail access across both the United States and Japan.
The funding round was spearheaded by long-time investor SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd., alongside notable backing from institutions such as Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., MISUMI Group Inc., and Mizuho Bank Ltd. This fresh capital brings Oishii’s lifetime fundraising total to $370 million since its establishment in 2016.
Breaking the Agtech Chill with Automation
The influx of capital serves as a powerful vote of confidence in Oishii’s proprietary Smart Farm™ model, particularly during a time when the broader vertical farming landscape has cooled due to high operational costs and economic headwinds. Oishii has successfully separated itself from competitors by marrying nature with high-tech automation: Its indoor facilities emulate optimal natural conditions—including custom light, heat and natural bee pollination—blended with centuries-old Japanese cultivation techniques to produce pesticide-free, non-GMO strawberries year round.
Central to Oishii’s scaling blueprint is its heavy integration of robotics and manufacturing technology. This focus was accelerated by the company’s 2025 acquisition of Tortuga AgTech, which bolstered its engineering capabilities with sophisticated fruit-harvesting robots.
Additionally, a strategic partnership established with the MISUMI Group, a global supplier of manufacturing and automation components, earlier this year has streamlined components and automation infrastructure across its international operations.
Democratizing Premium Produce
Oishii achieved a level of fame within the luxury culinary space by launching Omakase Berry in 2018, which initially retailed for nearly $50 per tray. However, as noted in reports covering the company’s trajectory on FoodBev Media, the business has evolved past its high-end niche into a scalable consumer brand.
By introducing new varieties—the Koyo Berry and the Nikko Berry—Oishii has successfully expanded its footprint into accessible price points ranging from $4.99 to $15. To further boost retail scalability, the company deployed a new “stay-fresh” top-seal packaging design. This choice improves shelf life while reducing plastic consumption by 80% compared to standard clamshell containers.
Today, Oishii’s distribution spans 18 states across the U.S., alongside an international retail presence in Toronto, Canada. Looking ahead, a portion of the capital will fund advanced research and development via its unique Open Innovation Center located in Tokyo, Japan.
A Vision Realized
Reflecting on the milestone, Hiroki Koga, Co-Founder and CEO of Oishii, acknowledged the immense technical challenges behind their product line. “When we chose strawberries, we knew we were selecting one of the hardest paths in indoor farming,” Koga said in the press release.
“They require precision at every stage, from pollination and harvesting to freshness and shelf life, and there were moments along the way where solving one challenge revealed the next one underneath it. This funding marks a new phase for Oishii as we scale what we’ve built, with deeper confidence in the decisions we’ve made and the role we can play in bringing high-quality produce to more people.”
“Since our Series A investment in 2019, we have continuously supported Oishii Farm’s growth. It is truly inspiring to see the vision we shared at that time steadily becoming a reality, as the company advances seamlessly from research and development to proof of concept and commercialization,” said Shuhei Abe, President & CEO of SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd. “One of the company’s key strengths lies in its exceptional execution capability, which has enabled rapid technological advancement. As Oishii Farm enters a new phase with the establishment of its Open Innovation Center in Japan, we look forward to continuing to support its growth.”
With its technology proven and its financial foundation reinforced, Oishii is uniquely positioned to shape the next frontier of sustainable, automated indoor agriculture.
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