Oishii has launched the Nikko Berry, its third vertically-farmed strawberry varietal and its most affordable offering to date. Priced at $7.99, the Nikko represents a significant cost breakthrough for a company once known for $50 punnets and signals a growing capacity to scale premium indoor farming for mainstream markets.
"The new Nikko Berry is a prime example of our commitment to reinvent agriculture," says Hiroki Koga, CEO and co-founder at Oishii. "Over the last eight years, we've worked tirelessly to improve our technology and cost efficiency, and with the launch of our third product—our most affordable berry yet—we are delivering on our promise to make fresh, delicious, pesticide-free produce accessible and available all year long."
Koga also introduced the new product via a short announcement on social media, saying, "We gave this berry the name Nikko, which means sunshine in Japanese—because it has the perfect balance of sweetness and refreshing acidity, with a crispness like biting into pure summer."
Distinct sensory profile and improved yields
Nikko was developed to offer a unique combination of flavor and texture that evokes summer nostalgia. Unlike the sweet, creamy Omakase or the firmer, subtly tart Koyo, the Nikko features a juicier bite and brighter acidity.
Beyond taste, its performance in the greenhouse has also been notable. According to the company's official press release, "The Nikko Berry grows more berries per plant than Oishii's other varietals—allowing the brand to launch as low as $7.99, Oishii's lowest priced product to date."
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Addressing consumer frustration with food waste
Alongside affordability, the Nikko launch speaks to a broader consumer frustration with traditional berries, notably inconsistent ripening and high spoilage rates. Oishii is positioning Nikko as a premium yet reliable alternative.
"For consumers tired of food waste resulting from frequent grocery store strawberry inconsistency and spoilage, the Nikko Berry is the perfect solution," the company notes. "It's grown in our most advanced vertical farm," adds Koga. "Just like all of our other products, Nikko is grown without relying on any pesticides and is Non-GMO Project Verified."
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Scale, speed, and smart farming integration
The Nikko Berry's development is backed by ongoing internal R&D and automated infrastructure at Oishii's farms near Manhattan. "This breakthrough reflects the scale, automation, and continuous research happening inside our vertical farms—where we've conducted a few hundred years' worth of experiments in just the last year alone," Koga explains.
This rapid pace of development is powered by smart environments that recreate optimal natural conditions using AI-powered climate control, LED lighting, and precision pollination systems.
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Boosted by strategic acquisition of Tortuga AgTech IP
The release also follows Oishii's recent acquisition of key IP and team members from Tortuga AgTech, a robotics firm focused on agricultural automation. The company expects this integration to significantly reduce operational costs and increase automation reliability.
"This move is turbo-charging the output and efficiency of Oishii's pioneering robotic harvesting capabilities," according to the company. "It is helping Oishii to competitively lower their harvesting and product expenses—enabling more consumers to enjoy cleaner, sweeter, premium quality produce."
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Diversifying the Oishii portfolio
The Nikko Berry joins a growing portfolio that includes the Omakase Berry, the Koyo Berry, and the Rubi Tomato. Each varietal has its own flavor profile, color, texture, and ideal growing recipe.
"Our mission is to bring better products to our consumers through innovation," Koga said in his announcement. "We want to make delicious, safe, fresh produce available to everyone around the world at an affordable price. It takes time to fully get there, but we're making significant progress."
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