Woolworths Metro has partnered with Sydney based AgTech innovation company InvertiGro to launch Australia’s “first” in-store vertical farm at Metro Park Sydney Village, to offer fresh, sustainably grown herbs to the Erskineville community.
Dubbed ‘The Urban Garden,’ shoppers will be able to watch the innovative indoor farming solution in action in the fruit and veg department of the store. Fresh living herbs will be grown indoors with water and space efficiency with the absence of synthetic herbicides and pesticides.
The herbs are grown at the InvertiGro indoor farm in Rosebery, less than 2km from the Woolworths Metro Park Sydney store. Fully-grown herbs are then transported to the store ready for sale, while others are transplanted into the in-store vertical farming wall where shoppers can watch them continue to grow.
The fresh herb range currently includes basil, parsley, mint and coriander.
InvertiGro Co-Founder Paul Millett says: “We are delighted to be partnering with Woolworths Metro to deliver a hyper locally-grown fresh and flavoursome herb range whilst also introducing Park Sydney shoppers to a new way of farming and the benefits of indoor vertical farming.
“Through growing close to where our produce is going to be consumed, InvertiGro reduces food waste considerably by reducing the amount of food lost in transportation and handling. By providing fresh usage-size bunches we also aim to reduce the waste once consumers take them home. What’s generally discarded, such as stalks (although these can often be used in cooking too!), the root-ball and growing media of herbs can all be put in the green-waste recycling, whilst the paper-based packaging is also 100% recyclable in the kerbside paper-bin.”
Woolworths Metro Director Justin Nolan says: “This is a great opportunity for Metro Park Sydney Village customers to connect with the provenance of their produce and an exciting platform for Woolworths Metro to create greater awareness for innovative Australian farming.
“Metro Park Sydney shoppers will notice InvertiGro takes up a small amount of space in-store and is a great non-waste initiative for our customers. We look forward to our shoppers using the hyper-local fresh herbs available at the Urban Garden to garnish and add flavour to home-cooked meals.”
Basil, parsley, mint and coriander will be available in convenient common usage sized bunches for $3 each.
For more information, visit invertigro.com/woolworths.