Oishii

About Oishii

Oishii is an agricultural technology company that operates the world's largest indoor vertical strawberry farms, cultivating premium, pesticide-free produce year-round. The company was founded in 2016 by CEO Hiroki Koga and COO Brendan Somerville. Koga, who grew up in Japan where fruit is often treated as a luxury item, was inspired to bring a similar high-quality experience to the U.S. market after observing a gap during his time at UC Berkeley. His background in agricultural technology consulting at Deloitte in Japan provided him with insight into the challenges and potential of the vertical farming industry. Oishii's business model targets both high-end food service and direct-to-consumer retail. The company initially launched its signature 'Omakase Berry' in 2018, supplying Michelin-starred restaurants with trays originally priced at $50. As the company scaled, it introduced more accessible products like the 'Koyo Berry' and 'Nikko Berry' and expanded its product line to include the 'Rubī Tomato'. This strategy allowed Oishii to broaden its consumer base, with products now available in major retailers and priced for more everyday consumption. The company's technological approach combines centuries-old Japanese farming techniques with modern automation, robotics, and AI. Oishii's proprietary indoor smart farms replicate the ideal growing conditions of the Japanese Alps, controlling elements like air, light, and water while using natural bee pollination—a significant achievement in a closed-loop environment. This controlled process ensures consistent quality and eliminates the need for pesticides, with all its berries being Non-GMO Project Verified. To further enhance its automation capabilities, Oishii acquired Tortuga AgTech, integrating more advanced harvesting robotics. Headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, Oishii has undergone significant expansion, opening multiple large-scale farm facilities. The company has successfully raised substantial capital, securing $370 million in total funding as of May 2026, to fuel its growth, advance robotics, and expand its infrastructure across the U.S. and Japan. Unlike many competitors who focused on leafy greens, Oishii's strategic focus on the more complex and premium strawberry market has allowed it to build a sustainable business model and defy the general downturn in the vertical farming sector.