"The purpose is to show what we are doing and how we are doing it, to educate the consumer and develop the market through trust, transparency, and a purpose of eating healthier. Our mission began with a commitment to promoting health, and vertical farming became the most effective way for us to grow fresher, healthier vegetables," explains Jesper Hansen, Chief Commercial Officer at YesHealth Group.
Jesper Hensen, Chief Commercial Officer
YesHealth Group (YHG), operating under the brand YesHealth iFarm in Taiwan, has been supplying various retailers domestically since 2013. Unlike most operators, YesHealth iFarm has integrated health, education, and community engagement into its business model. Based in Taoyuan City, just 30 minutes from Taipei, the 12,000 m² farm consists of 14 layers and delivers about 1,000 kg of fresh produce every day to the market.
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"This is our second commercial farm in Taiwan. Our first farm was completed in 2013 and was fully self-funded by our founder, Winston Tsai. In 2017, we raised capital to build this farm, which we have successfully made profitable every year for the past three years, demonstrating that indoor farming can be commercially viable.
Designed to be accessible to the public, the farm can accommodate around 1,000 visitors weekly through farm tours, workshops, and events in its dedicated event center. Visitors can see firsthand how their food is grown, from the seedling stage to harvest. "We believe that educating people about where their food comes from is just as important as the food itself. Seeing is believing; when customers witness our farming processes, it builds trust," Jesper emphasizes. The site also features an integrated retail store, a farm-to-table restaurant, and the iPaleo coffee shop, welcoming more than 2,000 visitors weekly. The storefront doesn't only include fresh products but also gut probiotics and pesto, which, among other products, are processed greens from the farm.
Serving a broad customer market
Producing a wide variety of leafy greens, herbs, and specialty crops, YesHealth includes different types of lettuce, such as romaine, butterhead, and oak leaf, as well as herbs like parsley, coriander, mint, and basil. Most of these are sold with roots intact to maintain their freshness, made possible by a proprietary hydrogel substrate. This plant-based, zero-waste hydrogel is fully absorbed by the plants as they grow, disappearing entirely by the time of harvest, leaving the roots clean and intact.
From ready-to-eat salad mixes sold in 220 g packages to heads of lettuce sold at €2.93, YesHealth aims to serve a broad customer market. Partnering with large players like Costco, Carrefour, and 7-11, local restaurants and cafés has helped diversify their domestic reach. Additionally, YesHealth iFarm sells B2C through its online platforms and operates a dedicated logistics setup with its own trucks to deliver directly to private customers.
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The restaurant
In Taiwan, the primary selling points are quality, safety, and health, as raw salads are not traditionally a common part of the local diet. "Given the contamination risks and heavy pesticide use in conventional farming, our ability to provide a safe, high-quality product sets us apart from the competition," says Jesper Hansen.
"Consumers trust our brand because we are transparent about our processes. This trust allows us to maintain a premium market position." Yet, transparency isn't the only factor, he finds. YesHealth has been supporting local growers who share similar values, offering their produce through the facility's retail shop. "We believe in collaboration over competition; partnering with like-minded growers helps us all succeed," he adds.
'A test bed for next-gen farms'
The farm's Manufacturing Execution System optimizes production schedules, tracks growing parameters, and provides real-time data for quality control to ensure consistent quality year-round.
"This farm has been serving as a test bed for new technologies, transitioning from manual to semi-automated and fully automated systems as processes are refined," Jesper points out. As with all our partner farms, we first go manual to test the production process, and from there, we gradually move into automation. In this farm, innovations such as YesBase, a plant-based hydrogel that supports seed germination, were born, as well as self-made biofertilizers, which are combined with organic probiotics to boost plant health.
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Stella Tsai and Jesper Hansen
Supplier and operator in one
As Jesper explains, "Over the years, we have developed almost all technology and equipment in-house by combining our experience in running farms with manufacturing equipment that is fit for purpose." By doing so, YesHealth has been able to save money while creating a technology solution that works harmoniously with its know-how. "It's much more cost-efficient than other companies in the industry," Jesper adds.
With a farm nearing completion in Saudi Arabia, YesHealth is set to expand its global footprint alongside its newest farm, which is scheduled for construction in the US.
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For more information:
YesHealth Group
Jesper Hansen, Chief Commercial Offier
[email protected]
www.yeshealthgroup.com