As part of a collaboration between Danske Nordic Harvest and the Salling Group, vertically grown salads and herbs are now available in føtex and Bilka stores across Denmark.
The agreement will see Nordic Harvest deliver almost three tonnes of salads and herbs a week to føtex and Bilka stores.
The group will also test new products in Salling Group's stores on an ongoing basis, the company added.
Stephan Bruhn, category director at Salling Group, said, "The products from Nordic Harvest are unique in taste and quality. They are produced without the use of pesticides, with an approximately 250 times lower water consumption and through a completely optimal land use. We have believed in Nordic Harvest's innovative products for several years and are pleased that it has now become a reality."
Bruhn added that føtex and Bilka know "that consumers are interested in the green transition, food security and goods without chemicals, and we are convinced that sustainable products in this form will be a hit."
Føtex and Bilka are the first Danish retailers to offer vertically-grown salads and herbs from Danske Nordic Harvest.
Vertical Farm
Nordic Harvest cultivates its crops in storeys in its vertical farm in Taastrup for optimum use of space.
Vertically grown crops also ensure minimal water consumption, approximately 250 times less than in average vegetable production.
Spread over 14 floors, the salad and herbs are grown in water in a closed and controlled environment that gives the plants the optimal conditions for growth, taste, and nutritional content, without the need for pesticides.
From seeds to the supermarket, the products never come into contact with soil, human hands, bacteria, fungal spores, or pests.
As a result, they don't need to be rinsed, either when packed or before being used at home at the dining table.
There is nothing along the way that degrades the plant, resulting in a long-lasting shelf life that minimises food waste, the retailer added.
Elsewhere, Coop Denmark introduced vertically grown salads in 35 large-format Irma stores in Copenhagen in March.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Conor Farrelly. For more Fresh Produce news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
