Some interesting developments are happening in the world of herbs. Starting with the traction being gained in domestic sourcing of herbs. For Soli Organic, its vertically integrated supply chain means its supply of herbs is consistent, given it grows year-round in indoor growing facilities that provide consistent temperature, humidity, and light levels. "We've achieved near-complete domestic sourcing for key herbs like basil and dill, which provides significant supply chain resilience during a time where the produce industry is grappling with the threat of tariffs," says Soli Organic's chief product officer Gianna De Caro.
© Soli OrganicDe Caro says the company has achieved near-complete domestic sourcing for key herbs like basil and dill, which provides significant supply chain resilience.
De Caro says that domestic production helps the company provide a steady supply and maintain price stability. "Unlike our outdoor-grown competitors who are challenged by escalating labor and transportation costs and a heightened exposure from potential tariff impacts, our indoor controlled agriculture model provides a critical buffer against market volatility," she says.
Indoor farms near DCs
The company primarily grows herbs in its indoor farms located across the United States in Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina, all of which are positioned near distribution centers to minimize transportation time and costs for optimal freshness and operational efficiency.
"Our controlled environment agriculture expansion has meaningfully increased production capacity and provided more consistent harvests," says De Caro. "We're especially proud of the strategic launch of our Texas facility, which represents a significant milestone, introducing local, fresh, organic herb options in a market segment where such offerings have been limited. Our 'Texas Proud' label underscores our commitment to transparent, localized agricultural production."
© Soli OrganicThe company primarily grows herbs in its indoor farms located across the United States in Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina.
The company does also source some crops externally–particularly ones that don't grow efficiently indoors, though its indoor growing makes its supply largely domestic throughout the year.
In terms of demand, there's also an increase from consumers for one notable herb–dill. To meet that demand, the company is introducing larger pack sizes and an extra large living herb dill option, developing seasonal promotions to support dill during canning season, and including dill in its specialty Seafood Blend.
Thinking beyond single-variety herbs
Blends and the seasonal relevance of herbs are very much part of the company's product development strategy. "We're bringing back proven customer favorites like our BBQ Blend and Summer Lemonade Blend, while simultaneously developing new specialized offerings for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday peak season," says De Caro. (Thanksgiving and Easter are notable high fresh herb consumption holidays.) "Herbs are a unique category—they may not drive store traffic, but they're essential to the shopper's experience. Our goal is ensuring the products consumers want are available and then expanding those options through innovative offerings."
© Soli OrganicBlends and the seasonal relevance of herbs are very much part of the company's product development strategy.
It's also part of bigger thinking in the category to make herbs more accessible and approachable. "By developing new blends, packaging formats, and product lines, we're helping shoppers overcome barriers to using fresh herbs while maintaining our core commitment to local, fresh, and organic production," says De Caro.
For more information:
Soli Organic Inc.
Tel: +1 (540) 896-6939
info@soliorganic.com
www.soliorganic.com