Bowery Farming
Bowery Farming was a New York-based vertical farming company that grew leafy greens, herbs, strawberries, and salad kits in indoor hydroponic farms near major US cities. It sold through grocery retailers including Albertsons, Safeway, Acme, and Whole Foods, raised over $938 million, and shut down in November 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bowery Farming does
Bowery Farming was a New York-based vertical farming company founded in 2015 by Irving Fain that operated a network of indoor hydroponic farms near major US metropolitan areas including New York/New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The company used a proprietary operating system called BoweryOS to automate and optimize growing conditions — light spectrum, water, nutrients, temperature, humidity, and harvest timing — and combined this with LED lighting, soil-free hydroponic cultivation, and continuous closed-loop water cycling. Its core product portfolio spanned leafy greens (arugula, baby kale, baby romaine, baby butter lettuce, crispy leaf, bok choy, kale mix), culinary herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley), strawberries (launched March 2022 after three years of R&D), and ready-to-eat salad kits (launched September 2022). The company ran a dedicated R&D facility called Farm X in Kearny, NJ, focused on extending cultivation into root vegetables, tomatoes, and peppers.
The business model was B2B-led, selling Bowery-branded packaged produce to grocery retailers for resale to consumers. Distribution was anchored by a major Albertsons Companies partnership that expanded Bowery products into approximately 800 stores by 2021 across Safeway and Acme banners on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic, with additional placement at Whole Foods and other regional chains plus online availability via Amazon. Pricing was quote-based B2B and not publicly disclosed. A minor food-service channel existed through partnerships such as the summer 2022 Caffè Panna ice cream collaboration. The company marketed directly to consumers through content (The Upside blog), Instagram/LinkedIn/Twitter, earned media (Financial Times, Inc., CNBC, AdWeek), chef partnerships (José Andrés, Tom Colicchio, Eric Adjepong), and email/CRM programs.
Bowery raised more than $938 million in total funding from Fidelity (Series C lead at $2.3B valuation, May 2021), GV (Series B and C), Temasek, General Catalyst, KKR ($150M credit facility, January 2022), First Round Capital, GGV Capital, and others, with celebrity chef José Andrés as a notable investor. Despite these resources, the company shut down in November 2024, becoming one of the most prominent failures in the vertical farming sector alongside AppHarvest and Plenty, with closures attributed to high capital intensity, energy costs, and inability to achieve unit economics competitive with conventional agriculture. A 2025 liquidation of the Locust Grove, Georgia facility by SecondBloom confirmed the wind-down.
Bowery Farming firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bowery Farming
- Legal name
- Bowery Farming Inc.
- Website
- https://boweryfarming.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Bowery Farming was a New York-based vertical farming company that grew leafy greens, herbs, strawberries, and salad kits in indoor hydroponic farms near major US cities. It sold through grocery retailers including Albertsons, Safeway, Acme, and Whole Foods, raised over $938 million, and shut down in November 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bowery Farming industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indoor Vertical Farming
- NAICS
- Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Greenhouse Herb & Microgreens Production (Culinary Herbs, Microgreens) (AFAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydroponic / Controlled-Environment Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAM), Herb Farming (Basil, Parsley, Cilantro, Mint, Dill) (AFAGADAK)
Keywords
Where Bowery Farming is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Bowery Farming business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fresh Produce Sales: Sale of vertically farmed leafy greens, herbs, and strawberries to grocery retailers and food service companies. Products sold under Bowery brand in retail packaging.
- Salad Kits and Ready-to-Eat Products: Value-added products including ready-to-eat salad kits sold at retail, expanding into new product categories.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bowery Farming product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bowery Farming operates a network of indoor vertical farms that grow and sell pesticide-free, non-GMO leafy greens, herbs, strawberries, and ready-to-eat salad kits under its own brand. Crops are cultivated hydroponically under LED lighting with all growing conditions (light, water, nutrients, harvest timing) managed by BoweryOS, the company's proprietary farm operating system. Finished produce is sold wholesale to grocery retailers and food service customers.
Product overview
Bowery Farming is a vertical farming company operating a platform of indoor farms with proprietary BoweryOS technology. The core offering includes a portfolio of fresh produce: leafy greens (Arugula, Baby Kale, Baby Kale Mix, Baby Romaine, Baby Butter, Bok Choy, Crispy Leaf), herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Parsley), strawberries, and ready-to-eat salad kits. The company also operates Farm X, a dedicated R&D innovation hub for developing new crop varieties. The BoweryOS platform automates all growing decisions across the farm network. Products are sold under the Farmer's Selection sub-brand for specialty small-batch greens.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Arugula Peppery arugula grown indoors under BoweryOS-controlled conditions with long, high-light days modeled on Mediterranean cycles, sold as a Bowery-branded bagged green to grocery retailers and food service customers.
- Baby Kale Young kale harvested before full maturity for a sweeter, more delicate flavor profile, sold in 4.0 oz bags under the Bowery brand for retail and food service use in salads, smoothies, and hot dishes.
- Baby Kale Mix Blended mix of oakleaf and romaine baby greens grown in a temperate indoor environment, packaged and sold under the Bowery brand as a colorful bagged salad base.
- Baby Romaine Tender baby romaine with bright leaves and crisp texture, grown in slightly cooler indoor conditions and sold under the Bowery brand for both raw and cooked applications.
- Baby Butter Lettuce Sweet, buttery baby butter lettuce with smooth texture, grown indoors in a temperate environment and sold as a versatile salad base under the Bowery brand.
- Crispy Leaf Bowery's signature crispy green with a crunchy center and frilly edges, sold as a bagged salad green positioned for texture and freshness.
- Bok Choy Earth-flavored leafy green from the broccoli family grown in cooler indoor temperatures to develop purple leaves, sold under the Bowery brand as a specialty Asian green (noted as not currently available at time of source capture).
- Basil Sweet, aromatic basil grown indoors with heat, humidity, and high light to maximize flavor, sold in 1.25 oz clamshells under the Bowery brand to grocery retailers.
- Cilantro Citrusy, fragrant cilantro (coriander) grown in Mediterranean-style long, light-filled indoor days and sold under the Bowery brand; recognized by Progressive Grocer as an Editor's Pick for Best New Products 2020.
- Parsley Bright, refreshing flat-leaf parsley grown in full-light indoor conditions to reflect Mediterranean roots, sold under the Bowery brand as a culinary herb for both retail and food service.
- Strawberries Year-round indoor strawberries grown at Bowery's Kearny, NJ facility after three years of R&D to develop suitable indoor cultivars, sold in 4-ounce containers as Bowery's first expansion beyond leafy greens and herbs.
- Farmer's Selection Rotating, small-batch line of next-generation specialty greens curated by Bowery's R&D team, with Mustard Frills as the inaugural SKU and subsequent limited releases showcasing new indoor-cultivar varieties.
- Salad Kits Ready-to-eat salad kits combining Bowery-grown forkable greens with bold flavor seasonings and crunchy toppings, available in three varieties and sold at retail as Bowery's first entry into the prepared foods category.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% less water usage than traditional farming
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bowery Farming
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bowery Farming technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
Bowery Farming partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Caffè PannaminorCollaboration with NYC ice cream shop for summer partnership, featuring Bowery produce in limited edition flavor offerings.
- UnfoldminorBowery joined Unfold's Innovation Partner Program to accelerate development of new plant varieties specifically optimized for the vertical farming industry.
- The Nature ConservancyminorPartnership for Earth Month supporting rewilding efforts through the 'Rewild the Land' Initiative, demonstrating commitment to environmental sustainability beyond farming operations.
- Albertsons CompaniescoreMajor retail partnership to place Bowery's vertically grown greens in hundreds of grocery stores. Initially expanded to 275 new stores, growing Bowery's reach to nearly 800 stores through Safeway and Acme chains on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bowery Farming competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Plenty: San Francisco-based vertical farming company building indoor farms for leafy greens and herbs, with major retail partnerships. Directly comparable in vertical farming methodology, leafy greens focus, and B2B grocery distribution strategy; also experienced severe industry headwinds.
- Local Bounti: Hamilton, MT-based controlled-environment agriculture company using vertical farming and stack-and-flow methods to grow leafy greens and herbs. Closely comparable to Bowery in CEA methodology, leafy greens/herbs portfolio, and US grocery retail distribution model.
- Gotham Greens: Brooklyn-based indoor/greenhouse farming company operating a network of hydroponic greenhouses near major US cities to grow leafy greens and herbs. Closely comparable to Bowery in urban-located indoor production, leafy greens/herbs portfolio, and B2B grocery retail distribution.
- AeroFarms: Newark, NJ-based vertical farming company growing leafy greens and herbs indoors using aeroponic technology. Directly comparable to Bowery in product category (leafy greens, herbs), target market (B2B grocery retailers), indoor farming methodology, and urban-located farm footprint in the Northeast.
- BrightFarms: Irvington, NY-based greenhouse operator growing leafy greens in hydroponic greenhouses near major US metro areas. Closely comparable to Bowery in leafy greens focus, controlled-environment agriculture methodology, and supermarket supply model serving regional grocery chains.
- Revol Greens: Medford, MN-based greenhouse operator growing leafy greens in hydroponic greenhouses, supplying major US grocery retailers. Directly comparable to Bowery in leafy greens focus, hydroponic greenhouse methodology, and B2B grocery retail distribution strategy.
- AppHarvest: Morehead, KY-based indoor farming company operating high-tech greenhouses for tomatoes, leafy greens, and other produce. Directly comparable to Bowery in controlled-environment agriculture methodology and indoor farming focus, though with a broader crop portfolio; ultimately filed Chapter 7 amid the same sector-wide collapse.
- 80 Acres Farms: Hamilton, OH-based vertical farming company operating indoor farms producing leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens. Directly comparable to Bowery in indoor vertical farming methodology, leafy greens/herbs portfolio, and B2B retail distribution focus.
Regional players
- Spread: Kyoto-based vertical farming company operating large-scale indoor lettuce production facilities in Japan. Comparable to Bowery in vertical farming methodology and leafy greens focus, but primarily serves the Japanese market rather than competing directly in North American grocery channels.
- Infarm: Berlin-based vertical farming company operating modular indoor farms for leafy greens and herbs, primarily across European markets. Closely comparable to Bowery in vertical farming methodology and leafy greens/herbs portfolio, but with primary geographic focus on Europe rather than North America.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bowery Farming social profiles
Digital presenceBowery Farming financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bowery Farming leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Bowery Farming subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Bowery Farming funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors26 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bowery Farming M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bowery Farming
What does Bowery Farming do?
Bowery Farming operates a network of indoor vertical farms that grow and sell pesticide-free, non-GMO leafy greens, herbs, strawberries, and ready-to-eat salad kits under its own brand. Crops are cultivated hydroponically under LED lighting with all growing conditions (light, water, nutrients, harvest timing) managed by BoweryOS, the company's proprietary farm operating system. Finished produce is sold wholesale to grocery retailers and food service customers.
Is Bowery Farming a public or private company?
Bowery Farming is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently closed.
When was Bowery Farming founded?
Bowery Farming was founded in 2015. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Bowery Farming based?
Bowery Farming is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bowery Farming make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fresh Produce Sales are the primary driver. The others are salad Kits and Ready-to-Eat Products.
Who are Bowery Farming's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Plenty, Local Bounti, Gotham Greens, AeroFarms, BrightFarms, Revol Greens, AppHarvest and 80 Acres Farms. Regional players are Spread and Infarm.
Does Bowery Farming have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bowery Farming.
What industry is Bowery Farming in?
Bowery Farming's product category is Indoor Vertical Farming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAGAHAC, Greenhouse Herb & Microgreens Production (Culinary Herbs, Microgreens), with a secondary code of AFAIACAM, Hydroponic / Controlled-Environment Produce Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 111419 and its SIC code is 100.