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A visit to GruveGront, inside a cave

GruveGront is based 30 minutes outside of Oslo, Norway 
GruveGront is based 30 minutes outside of Oslo, Norway 
The GruveGront meeting place outside the cave
The GruveGront meeting place outside the cave
Rafik Halabi and Peyman Karim Afshar, founders of Gruvegrønt
Rafik Halabi and Peyman Karim Afshar, founders of Gruvegrønt
The cave is now used for other purposes such as storage, and, in some cases, vertical farming 
The cave is now used for other purposes such as storage, and, in some cases, vertical farming 
While the energy cost is minimal now, they've secured a long-term fixed energy price with the cave owner, Franzefoss, which helps mitigate rising costs expected in 2025
While the energy cost is minimal now, they've secured a long-term fixed energy price with the cave owner, Franzefoss, which helps mitigate rising costs expected in 2025
The farm supplies directly to restaurants in Oslo and surrounding areas like Bærum, allowing to face off large distributors and keep prices competitive
The farm supplies directly to restaurants in Oslo and surrounding areas like Bærum, allowing to face off large distributors and keep prices competitive
Baby Basil and microgreens
Baby Basil and microgreens
Just follow the pink light, and the rest will speak for itself
Just follow the pink light, and the rest will speak for itself
One of their well-sold products is this flower bud, used in cocktails 
One of their well-sold products is this flower bud, used in cocktails 
The formerly used stone mine 
The formerly used stone mine 
Rafik and Peyman have plenty of room left in their 'playground' of 30,000m2 cave, of which he only uses about 1000m2, with the vertical farm taking up to 300m2 of floor space.
Rafik and Peyman have plenty of room left in their 'playground' of 30,000m2 cave, of which he only uses about 1000m2, with the vertical farm taking up to 300m2 of floor space.
Delivered weekly, the products are often found fresher than imported products, as co-founder Payman explains. "Chefs see a notable difference in our quality as it can be stored for much longer."
Delivered weekly, the products are often found fresher than imported products, as co-founder Payman explains. "Chefs see a notable difference in our quality as it can be stored for much longer."
Owned by a local recycling company, the cave offers several advantages for an indoor farm, as Rafik emphasizes. "We're just using LEDs for heating, so we avoid a lot of the energy issues other vertical farms face."
Owned by a local recycling company, the cave offers several advantages for an indoor farm, as Rafik emphasizes. "We're just using LEDs for heating, so we avoid a lot of the energy issues other vertical farms face."
"It's not a rare occasion for us to grow larger herbs and microgreens as that's regularly favored by fine dining restaurants" 

"It's not a rare occasion for us to grow larger herbs and microgreens as that's regularly favored by fine dining restaurants" 

"When restaurants are busy, so are we." Pointing out that operations align closely with the seasonal cycles of restaurants, Gruvegrønt is preparing for a busy holiday season for instance.
"When restaurants are busy, so are we." Pointing out that operations align closely with the seasonal cycles of restaurants, Gruvegrønt is preparing for a busy holiday season for instance.
The modular Growth Stations, supplied by Norwegian startup, Avisomo, offer flexibility to adapt to multiple crops, from microgreens to leafy greens for instance, by alternating the hardware inside the system.
The modular Growth Stations, supplied by Norwegian startup, Avisomo, offer flexibility to adapt to multiple crops, from microgreens to leafy greens for instance, by alternating the hardware inside the system.
"We can guarantee quality, and freshness and avoid delays by handling our own deliveries" 
"We can guarantee quality, and freshness and avoid delays by handling our own deliveries" 
Despite demand growing steadily, Gruvegrønt faces competition from larger distributors
Despite demand growing steadily, Gruvegrønt faces competition from larger distributors
Despite competition from imported produce, GruveGront remains optimistic by offering unique products like these
Despite competition from imported produce, GruveGront remains optimistic by offering unique products like these