Edible Garden AG Incorporated has entered into a real estate purchase contract to acquire its Prairie Hills facility in Webster City, Iowa. The transaction will transition the company from tenant to owner of the 6.2-acre site, which is being developed into a ready-to-drink manufacturing platform.
The acquisition involves the purchase of real estate, buildings, improvements, and specified equipment from Iowa Shrimp Holdings, LLC. Edible Garden states that owning the property will provide long-term control over a strategic manufacturing asset central to its Farm-to-Formula platform. The facility is designed to support commercial production of shelf-stable nutritional beverages, including protein and functional wellness products, as well as private-label manufacturing opportunities.
Jim Kras, Chief Executive Officer of Edible Garden, described the acquisition as an important step in developing the company's manufacturing capabilities. He noted that moving to ownership would align with significant investments in product development and commercialization. Kras emphasized that the company is building a flexible manufacturing platform intended to support clean-label beverages on a commercial scale, stating that ownership would strengthen operational flexibility and establish a foundation for higher-value nutrition products.
The Prairie Hills facility is part of Edible Garden's strategy to extend its vertically integrated capabilities beyond fresh-produce operations into value-added consumer products. The company's Farm-to-Formula strategy connects agricultural expertise with formulation, advanced manufacturing, and retail distribution. Edible Garden believes that owning the Webster City property will support continued investment in the facility's manufacturing infrastructure.
The company operates controlled environment agriculture facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Webster City, Iowa, with its headquarters in Belvidere, New Jersey. Edible Garden's products are available in over 6,000 retail locations across the United States, Caribbean, and South America. The company holds patents in greenhouse technology and aquaculture systems, including a closed-loop shrimp farming system and modular recirculating aquaculture setups.
The acquisition remains subject to customary due diligence and closing conditions. Upon closing, Edible Garden will take possession of the property, with title conveyed to the company or a wholly owned subsidiary. The press release notes that the facility is expected to leverage Tetra Pak technology to scale operations and drive long-term growth.