Vertical farms allow for healthier and easier shopping in German grocery stores

It’s like shopping on a farm, only in a grocery store. 

Vertical farming displays have been placed in grocery stores in Berlin, Germany, that allow for customers to purchase the freshest possible produce directly from the farm. This is possible because the farm is in the grocery store. Currently found inside METRO Cash & Carry stores, these micro-farms give customers the opportunity to shop healthy. All the while reducing transportation costs, and ultimately helping the store with the bottom line. The farms are also efficient and good for the environment since they use less water, energy, and less space than traditional farms.  

INFARM, the limited company that is innovating this product, is working to integrate the vertical farms into the shopping experience with large displays put into the stores. This innovation also boasts as being the pioneer with trying to reshape the in-store experience.  Using these displays, the shopper can walk into the installation and select the produce they want. Overall giving them a better value for the food that appears on their plate. 

“We want to change the way people grow, eat and think food. We believe our food system should be de­centralise and production should get closer to the consumer,” said Erez Galonska, founder and CEO of INFARM.  

The project is currently in its pilot year. For this reason, only herbs and salad greens can be purchased as of right now. But this technology has the capability to expand into growing other fruits and vegetables.  

The next steps for the company includes placing these hubs in hotels and restaurants as they continue to collaborate.