Most of us are familiar with a container of strawberries ranging anywhere from $4-6, but $50…no way!
Well, luxury fruit farming company Oishii was formerly selling their Japanese variety Omakase Berry at $50 a tray—and people were buying it. You might recognize business names such as Dominique Ansel or Michelin-starred restaurants such as Atomix and Sushi Ginza Onodera, who all currently use the Omakase Berry at their establishments.
This hefty price tag comes from the Omakase Berry’s powerful aroma, enhanced sweetness and creamy texture that your average strawberry lacks.
However, CEO and Co-Founder of Oishii, Hiroki Koga, just announced that the Omakase Berry trays will now sell for $20 a piece, thanks to their newly opened facility just across the Hudson! Mugen Farm (translating to ‘infinite’ in Japanese) goes on record as the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry farm, and it’s only a short trip outside of NYC.
The new scale of the facility permits Oishii to nurture 100 times more Omakase Berry plants, resulting in a whopping price reduction to the notoriously expensive strawberries. 8 Large Omakase Berry trays and 11 Medium Omakase Berry trays now sell for $30 less than their previous $50 price tag.
Hiroki Koga said, “We’ve worked hard to pioneer advanced technology that unlocks a substantially more efficient way to grow our unrivaled strawberries. Our largest farm yet pairs the next frontier of indoor farming innovation with the care and precision of centuries-old Japanese farming techniques.”
And the best news yet: people can shop the transformative berry starting June 1st at their local Whole Foods. “We can’t wait for more people to enjoy an endless strawberry season with the Omakase Berry at its new price and in its new home at Whole Foods Market,” said Hiroki Koga.
Guess you’ll have to try it for yourself and see if it really is worth the price tag!