US – Senn Brothers Produce, South Carolina based wholesale produce distributor has partnered with AmplifiedAg, an agriculture technology provider, to launch vertical farm that will steer indoor-grown produce in new direction.
With full control of its lettuce supply, Senn Brothers is currently creating more added value for its customer network and increasing indoor grown produce availability for end consumers.
The produce distributor recently launched its own vertical farm to support the introduction of its indoor-grown private-label brand, Sennsational FRESH which features a variety of leafy greens in its product lineup.
This partnership was thus necessary given AmplifiedAg’s capacity to provide the modular farm infrastructure, software platform, and farm management advisory services.
“AmplifiedAg modular farms are resilient, compact and scalable, enabling local food production year-round at key distribution points,” outlined the report by Perishable News.
Their technology offers a precision-controlled environment, and a single unit produces 3,400+ heads of lettuce every harvest with consistent high-quality yields.
The software platform manages and monitors harvest schedules, client orders, food safety alerts, and product distribution for complete farm business management.
Senn Brothers’ current operation produces over 112,000 lbs. of leafy greens annually and is anticipated to scale and diversify with client demand.
“We’re forging a new way for distributors to supply produce to their buyer networks; at Senn Brothers, we strive for diversity in what we offer, and to provide consistency and value for our customers,” outlined Zach Senn, the executive overseeing the vertical farming operation, and third-generation family member of Senn Brothers Produce
“The benefits of vertical farming allow us to control our supply and meet our food quality, food safety, and distribution standards.”
According to Senn, operating their own farm gives them the flexibility to customize products and packs for clients, and deliver them quickly instead of seeking new procurement. Currently, they are trialing new custom blends with restaurant owners.
The Sennsational FRESH line boasts a variety of pesticide-free, flavor-packed lettuces, garnering acclaim from customers and industry partners, including Produce Alliance, a network of specialty distributors with over USD 6 billion in annual produce sales.
Josh Blanton, VP of Procurement at Produce Alliance, praises Sennsational FRESH for supporting local businesses efficiently: “Being centrally located in the Southeast allows Sennsational Fresh to swiftly deliver fresh products with a small carbon footprint.”
CEO of AmplifiedAg, Don Taylor, expresses excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Vertical farming can reshape the produce supply chain by empowering distributors. Our high-performance CEA model showcases this potential.”
For all the latest fresh produce industry news updates from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
