The Berry and the Bot Maker

Japanese manufacturer Misumi invests in Oishii, supplying robotics components via Fictiv to scale premium US indoor strawberry farms

6 Apr 2026

Misumi Group, one of Japan's largest precision component manufacturers, announced a strategic equity investment in Oishii, the New Jersey-based indoor strawberry producer, in March 2026, marking a shift in how industrial capital is approaching vertical farming.

The deal goes beyond financing. Misumi will supply precision mechanical components to Oishii's US operations through Fictiv, its California-based manufacturing subsidiary, with direct support for Oishii's Ametalas facility. The two companies will also pursue joint research and development, designing components built specifically for agricultural robotics.

Oishii has pursued a different strategy from the vertical farming operators that failed under high costs and weak margins. Where funded competitors spent heavily on commodity leafy greens, Oishii concentrated on premium strawberries and tomatoes, using AI-controlled climate systems and live bee pollination to produce crops that most indoor farms have not attempted at scale. Its Nikko Berry is now sold in Whole Foods stores across 13 US states at $7.99 for a 10-ounce tray.

"We are thrilled to partner with Misumi to strengthen our supply chain and advance agricultural robotics," said Hiroki Koga, Oishii's chief executive. "This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation and precision."

The Misumi investment reflects a broader change in who is funding indoor agriculture. Early-stage venture capital is giving way to industrial manufacturers, infrastructure investors, and strategic corporate partners, who are backing companies with demonstrated operations rather than projected returns.

For Oishii, the agreement provides a stable, high-reliability supply chain for its automation systems, reducing a key operational risk as it expands its farm network. For Misumi, it represents an entry point into agricultural robotics, a market that has grown sharply as the automation requirements of modern indoor farms have intensified.

Whether the vertical farming sector can sustain this new class of investor, and whether operational discipline rather than scale alone will determine which companies endure, remains an open question.