Peapod offers fresh, aquaponic produce to Chicagoland customers

CHICAGO — Peapod is offering customers in the Chicago area organic produce from a local, indoor urban farming company, shortly after its announcement of a new pickup location near the city.

The online grocer said its Chicagoland customers would be able to buy salad mixes, arugula, basil, mint and others from Farmedhere. Farmedhere uses aquaponic growing techniques that combine hydroponics with aquaculture.

"Locally grown is the way to go," Peapod VP merchandising Tony Stallone said. "At Peapod, we support the farm-to-shelf movement, and Farmedhere's fresh, flavorful greens — sourced within 15 miles and 24 hours of harvest — will be a welcome addition to our online produce aisles."

Farmedhere uses a growing process that does not use chemicals, pesticides or soil, planting indoors in vertically stacked beds with nutrient-enhanced, recycled water. According to Peapod, the controlled environment optimizes plant growth and allows a crop success rate of 90% or more. The company uses compostable packaging that includes 95% less packaging while prolonging the freshness of the produce.

In other news, Peapod announced the opening of a Peapod Pick-Up location in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Ill., which follows pilot locations in the suburbs of Palatine, Deerfield and Lincolnshire. The location, which opened on Sept. 24, allows customers to order groceries online and schedule a pickup for the next day or beyond; Peapod employees meet customers at the location and then load their groceries for them.

Peapod also offers pickup locations in the Northeast, in partnership with the supermarket chains Stop & Shop, Giant-Carlisle and Giant-Landover, which are owned by parent company Ahold USA.