CINCINNATI, OH - More and more, as shoppers scan the aisles of their favorite retail locations, they are searching for greenhouse-grown produce and plant-based offerings. Remaining committed to its consumers and their needs, Kroger has announced it will be expanding the 300-store availability of Gotham Greens' produce offerings to nearly 1,000 stores and its plant-based items to almost 2,000 locations nationwide by the end of 2023.

"We're proud to expand our collaboration with Gotham Greens as we work together to bring fresh, local, high-quality and longer-lasting produce to our customers in an environmentally sustainable way," said Dan De La Rosa, Kroger's Group Vice President of Fresh Merchandising. "Gotham Greens' state-of-the-art, climate-controlled greenhouses reduce the number of days the products spend between harvest and our store shelves while removing unpredictable weather challenges and improving product quality and shelf-life. These factors ultimately reduce food waste, both in stores and in consumers' homes."

Since 2017, Kroger has focused on implementing best practices for reducing waste and extending freshness, and its partnership with Gotham Greens supports its mission. According to a press release, the grocer is committed to achieving zero food waste to landfill company-wide by 2025 and expanding the availability of Gotham's offerings will aid the retailer in creating a sustainable food system.

Gotham Greens grows, harvests, and delivers non-GMO, pesticide-free salad greens and herbs year-round. By using hydroponic growing systems in sunlight-powered greenhouses, the company's farms use up to 95 percent less water and 97 percent less land compared to field farming.

"Kroger and Gotham Greens share a commitment to building a more resilient and equitable food system, putting people and our planet at the forefront of everything we do," said Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gotham Greens. "With increasing climate and supply chain-related issues facing our food system, it's more important than ever to bring innovative farming solutions that grow high-quality produce while using fewer precious natural resources. Gotham Greens is growing fast, and we look forward to bringing our brand to new markets in the coming months."

To read more about this expansion, click here.

As Kroger remains dedicated to its sustainability goals, find out what it is doing to achieve them by reading AndNowUKnow.

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