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Oishii, the operator of the world's largest indoor vertical strawberry farm, has announced the first closing of a 150 million dollar Series C financing round. Led by SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd., the capital injection represents a significant vote of confidence in the company's proprietary Smart Farm model, arriving at a time when the broader vertical farming sector has faced considerable structural and financial headwinds.
The funding is earmarked for aggressive production expansion, the deeper integration of harvesting robotics, and the broadening of consumer access to the brand’s pesticide-free, Non-GMO strawberries.
Robotics and the Tortuga AgTech
A central pillar of Oishii’s commercial viability is its reliance on advanced automation to manage the complexities of indoor strawberry cultivation, a process notoriously more difficult to automate than leafy greens.
Following its 2025 acquisition of Tortuga AgTech, Oishii has rapidly expanded its robotic harvesting and engineering capabilities. This technical infrastructure allows the company to maintain precision and quality control across every stage of the growing cycle, from pollination to packaging.
To support this physical scaling, Oishii recently formalised a strategic partnership with MISUMI Group Inc., a global supplier of manufacturing components, to fortify its automation supply chain across both the United States and Japan.
Ultra Premium to Everyday Retail
Oishii first gained market attention in 2018 with the launch of its Omakase Berry, which commanded nearly 50 dollars per tray. However, the company’s recent growth has been driven by a deliberate shift toward more flexible, mass-market retail formats.
By introducing the Koyo Berry and the Nikko Berry, alongside new pack sizes, Oishii has successfully expanded its retail price points to range from $4.99 to $15.00. This pricing strategy has enabled the brand to scale its footprint across 18 U.S. states and launch its first international retail market in Toronto.
Furthermore, the brand is diversifying its portfolio beyond fresh produce. The introduction of the Premium Preserves line extends the Oishii brand into the ambient grocery aisle, providing a shelf-stable revenue stream that leverages the brand's reputation for peak-ripeness flavour.
Packaging Innovation and Supply Chain Sustainability
The recent rollout of the Nikko Berry highlighted Oishii's commitment to supply chain efficiency. The brand introduced an innovative "stay-fresh top-seal" packaging format designed to optimise shelf life and retail scalability. Notably, this format reduces plastic usage by 80 per cent compared to traditional clamshell packaging, aligning directly with the stringent Scope 3 and packaging reduction targets of major retail partners.
With total funding now reaching 370 million dollars, Oishii is entering a mature phase of corporate growth. The company is actively advancing its global R&D capabilities through the development of a first-of-its-kind Open Innovation Centre in Tokyo.
Hiroki Koga, Co-Founder and CEO of Oishii, noted that selecting strawberries was one of the hardest paths in indoor farming. However, he stated that solving these complex biological and mechanical challenges has given the company deep confidence in its scalable model. As the vertical farming industry continues to professionalise, Oishii’s ability to combine centuries-old Japanese farming techniques with cutting-edge robotics positions it as a primary infrastructure provider for the future of sustainable fruit production.
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