Urb-e, the compact container delivery network run with small electric vehicles, has partnered with indoor farming enterprise Square Roots to enable fast, local delivery of its greens.
The fleet is used to deliver fresh produce at Square Roots' indoor farm in Brooklyn to retail stores across New York City. Urb-e's electric vehicles were successfully deployed starting in December 2021.
Urb-e's containerized system provides capacity for the insulated cold storage bags to protect fresh produce, which enables faster loading and unloading times, better weather protection, and reduced congestion on the road, according to the company. All of these features work together to support Square Roots and quickly deliver produce that was picked at peak freshness, arriving in local stores within hours of harvest and minimizing food waste.
"Working with local farmers to deliver their responsibly-grown fresh produce—all while reducing emissions by using our vehicles—is part of building the greener and smarter cities of tomorrow, and that's why we're glad to partner with Square Roots," said Charles Jolley, CEO of Urb-e, in a statement. "Solutions like these not only take cars and trucks off the road, they ensure local, fresh food is available year round."
Square Roots' smart-farm technology platform and software-controlled hydroponic growing systems allow the company to grow more food with fewer resources, 365 days a year, regardless of outdoor weather conditions.
This approach uses 95 percent less water than conventional field farms and repurposes existing urban infrastructure—creating ideal growing climates inside refurbished upcycled shipping containers that are stacked vertically to reduce the company's impact on the land.
"Square Roots strategically deploys our indoor farms close to end consumers, all across the country, resulting in shorter supply chains everywhere—reducing food miles and minimizing food waste," said Tobias Peggs, co-founder and CEO at Square Roots, in a statement. "By working with Urb-e and utilizing their electric-powered vehicles, initially in New York City, Square Roots can quickly deliver our fresh produce to stores in a way that is better for people and planet, while making good business sense.”
Related: Albertsons Completes First Zero-Emission Grocery Delivery; Gopuff Makes NYC Debut with Local Food Offerings.