Strawberry farming leverages AI and robotics. MISUMI partners with Oishii Farm April 2, 2026 MISUMI Group has entered into a business agreement with Oishii Farm, a U.S. vertical farming company known for strawberries. The company reflects the Japanese monozukuri philosophy of craftsmanship, precision and excellence in production and aligns with MISUMI's commitment to the sustainable growth of the manufacturing sector and the broader monozukuri industry. By leveraging technologies including AI and robotics, Oishii precisely controls key environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, lighting and airflow, while also enabling automated harvesting. Through the U.S.-based subsidiary Fictiv, which MISUMI acquired in June 2025, MISUMI supplies mechanical components to Oishii's Ametalas Farm in the United States.

Oishii releases new Nikko berry top-seal pack. Oishii debuts its stay-fresh top-seal packaging for the Nikko Berry, its third strawberry varietal, rolling out to grocery stores this month. March 5, 2026 Courtesy Oishii Jersey City, New Jersey (March 2026) - Oishii announces the debut of its new stay-fresh top-seal packaging for the Nikko Berry, the company's third varietal and its most abundant and approachable Japanese strawberry, rolling out to grocery stores this month. Rooted in Oishii's commitment to premium flavor and year-round consistency, the new pack helps maintain berry quality longer, reduces plastic, and introduces thoughtful design upgrades that further Oishii's long-term vision to deliver better quality and more value in every pack. Oishii will preview the new packaging at Natural Products Expo West, offering retailers and industry partners an early look at the latest milestone in the company's vision to modernize the berry category and redefine what consumers can expect from fresh produce. Since its original launch in 2025, the Nikko Berry has continued to grow alongside Oishii's evolving capabilities. Named after the Japanese word for "sunshine," the varietal was introduced to bring sweet, high quality produce to more households in an everyday format. As the company has scaled and refined its Smart Farm Grown systems, the Nikko Berry has become yet another example of Oishii's ability to pass efficiencies on to consumers - with an original launch price of $9.99 the Nikko Berry saw a price reduction and increased pack size last Fall. Now, Oishii is extending that progress to the pack itself. This new pack represents the next phase of value, bringing better protection, and a more efficient format to consumers at an accessible price point. Built around a thoughtfully designed cardboard base topped with a lightweight seal, the new 7.5 oz pack maintains berry quality for longer than traditional clamshell packaging while offering a cleaner, shelf-forward footprint for retailers and a more eco-friendly experience for consumers. By reducing plastic use by more than 80% compared to most strawberry packaging in the market, the new format underscores Oishii's focus on thoughtful design with sustainability in mind and the continued modernization of the category. Oishii is also introducing its first-ever freshness guarantee. Printed directly on the back of the tray, the program offers a ten-day promise from harvest and invites customers to reach out if their berries do not meet Oishii's standards. The guarantee reflects the company's confidence in its precisely controlled growing environment, where berries are non-GMO, pesticide-free, harvested at peak ripeness, and nurtured inside smart farms designed to deliver consistent sweetness and quality year-round. The new Nikko Berry stay-fresh top-seal pack will roll out to retailers beginning in March: - FreshDirect (Northeast, DTC) for $7.99 - Sprouts (Philadelphia & DMV regions) for $7.99 - Central Market (Texas) for $8.99 - Roche Bros (Boston metro area) for $8.99 About Oishii Oishii (which means "delicious" in Japanese) is the innovative company behind the world's largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. On a mission to transform the agriculture industry through the power of smart farming, Oishii harmoniously marries nature with state-of-the-art technology to create the ideal elements - rain, air, heat, light, nourishment and natural bee pollination - for growing in-season produce all year round. Oishii's beloved Omakase, Koyo and Nikko Berries are grown in pesticide-free smart farms in the U.S. and proudly bear the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. Founded in 2016, Oishii's investors include SPARX Group, NTT, Yaskawa, McWin Capital Partners and Resilience Reserve. Oishii was recognized as one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" in 2022. For more information, visit www.oishii.com.