BELVIDERE, NJ, Oct. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edible Garden AG Incorporated (“Edible Garden” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EDBL, EDBLW), a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), organic and sustainable produce, and developer of the Zero-Waste Inspired^® mission and Farm-to-Formula^® platform, today announced that it has entered into a commercial supply agreement and strategic partnership with Caney Fork Farms, a certified organic, regenerative farm in Carthage, Tennessee. The agreement establishes Caney Fork Farms as an important production and supply partner for Edible Garden. Under the agreement, selected agricultural production activities will transition to Caney Fork Farms, providing Edible Garden with a more flexible supply model that can scale with customer demand.

The collaboration is expected to improve Edible Garden’s operating efficiency and reduce certain resources required to support internally managed growing activities within its core herb business. The transition begins in the fourth quarter of 2026 and is expected to be substantially complete during 2027. Once it is fully implemented, the Company expects it to reduce production costs associated with the transitioned growing activities by more than 12%, raising gross margin on that production from approximately 4% to over 19%. Edible Garden believes these improvements can support stronger margins, better operating leverage and continued progress toward profitability.

“This agreement represents an important evolution in Edible Garden’s operating model and sustainability strategy,” said Jim Kras, Chief Executive Officer of Edible Garden. “Caney Fork Farms brings exceptional knowledge of certified organic and regenerative agriculture, together with a commitment to scientific research and environmental stewardship that closely aligns with our mission.”

Kras continued, “By combining Caney Fork Farms’ regenerative growing platform with Edible Garden’s controlled environment agriculture expertise, retail relationships, national distribution capabilities and patented GreenThumb 2.0 technology, we believe we can create a more efficient and scalable supply network. This collaboration is expected to strengthen the economics of our core business while supporting our continued progress toward profitability.”

The partnership is expected to provide Edible Garden with several strategic and financial benefits, including:

• Lower production costs: Reducing certain labor, energy, maintenance and production expenses associated with Edible Garden’s existing internally managed growing operations, with production costs for the transitioned activities expected to decline by more than 12%.
• Gross-margin expansion: Expanding the use of a more flexible, variable-cost production model designed to provide greater cost predictability. The anticipated lower production costs described above are expected to raise gross margin on the transitioned production from approximately 4% to over 19%.
• Improved operating leverage: Positioning Edible Garden to support higher sales volumes without a proportional increase in operating expenses.
• Greater operating flexibility: Enabling production volumes to scale in response to retailer demand, product mix and seasonal requirements.
• Expanded geographic reach: Adding a strategically located production partner in Tennessee to complement Edible Garden’s existing national growing and distribution network.
• Enhanced sustainability platform: Combining Edible Garden’s Zero-Waste Inspired® approach and CEA heritage with Caney Fork Farms’ expertise in regenerative and certified organic agriculture.
• New product-development opportunities: Establishing a foundation for the commercialization of regeneratively grown crops, functional ingredients and innovative Farm-to-Formula® products.

The parties intend to explore opportunities beyond the initial commercial supply agreement, including the development and commercialization of a regeneratively grown culinary herbs program, functional ingredients and other agricultural products for Edible Garden’s retail customers and its expanding Farm-to-Formula® platform. The transition will be implemented in phases designed to support uninterrupted customer service and maintain Edible Garden’s standards for food safety, product quality, freshness and fulfillment. Edible Garden plans to utilize its GreenThumb 2.0 technology platform to support demand planning, production coordination, inventory management and traceability across the expanded supply network.

“This partnership brings together two distinct but highly complementary approaches to the future of agriculture,” Kras added. “Edible Garden has built its business around controlled environment agriculture, localized production and technology-enabled supply-chain management. Caney Fork Farms is demonstrating how regenerative practices can improve soil health, strengthen agricultural ecosystems and contribute to climate resilience. Together, we believe we can create meaningful commercial value while advancing a more sustainable food system.”

Edible Garden expects the agreement to begin contributing to operational efficiency as implementation progresses. The Company’s expectations for production cost and gross margin improvement are based on its current projections and the terms of the agreement. The financial impact will depend on the timing and scale of implementation, customer demand, product mix and other operating factors.

ABOUT EDIBLE GARDEN^®

Edible Garden AG Incorporated is a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), delivering organic, better-for-you, sustainable produce and products through its Zero-Waste Inspired^® next-generation farming model. Available in over 7,000 retail locations across the United States, Caribbean, and South America, Edible Garden is at the forefront of the CEA and sustainability technology movement, distinguished by its advanced safety-in-farming protocols, sustainable packaging, patented GreenThumb software, and innovative Self-Watering in-store displays. The Company operates state-of-the-art, vertically integrated greenhouses and processing facilities, including Edible Garden Heartland in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Edible Garden Prairie Hills in Webster City, Iowa; and its headquarters at Edible Garden Belvidere in New Jersey. It also partners with a network of contract growers strategically located near major U.S. markets to ensure freshness and reduce environmental impact. The Company is also expanding its Prairie Hills facility in Webster City, Iowa, into a dedicated ready-to-drink (RTD) clean nutrition manufacturing hub, supporting its Farm-to-Formula® strategy and its transformation into higher-margin, shelf-stable nutrition categories.

Edible Garden’s proprietary GreenThumb 2.0 software—protected by U.S. Patents US 11,158,006 B1, US 11,410,249 B2, and US 11,830,088 B2—optimizes vertical and traditional greenhouse growing conditions while aiming to reduce food miles. Its patented Self-Watering display (U.S. Patent No. D1,010,365) is designed to extend plant shelf life and elevate in-store presentation. In addition to its core CEA operations, Edible Garden owns three patents in advanced aquaculture technologies: a closed-loop shrimp farming system (US 6,615,767 B1), a modular recirculating aquaculture setup with automated water treatment and feeding (US 10,163,199 B2), and a sensor-driven ammonia control method utilizing electrolytic chlorine generation (US 11,297,809 B1).

The Company has been recognized as a FoodTech 500 firm by Forward Fooding, is a multi-year participant in Walmart’s Project Gigaton and a Giga Guru designee and has received NRG’s Excellence in Energy Award for its commitment to measurable environmental performance and energy stewardship. Edible Garden also develops and markets a growing line of nutrition and specialty food products, including Vitamin Way^® and Vitamin Whey^®—plant and whey protein powders—and Kick. Sports Nutrition, a premium performance line for health-conscious athletes seeking cleaner, better-for-you options. The Company’s offerings further include fresh, sustainable condiments such as Pulp fermented gourmet and chili-based sauces, as well as Pickle Party, a collection of fermented fresh pickles and krauts.

Learn more at https://ediblegardenag.com.
For Pulp products, visit https://www.pulpflavors.com.
For Vitamin Whey® products, visit https://vitaminwhey.com.
For Kick. Sports Nutrition products, visit https://kicksportsnutrition.net/
Watch the Company’s latest corporate video here.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,”  “design,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “look forward,” “plan,” “potential,” “projection,” “opportunity,” “strategy,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential impact of the commercial supply agreement with Caney Fork Farms on the Company’s operational and financial performance, the Company’s expectations for financial performance resulting from the commercial supply agreement and relationship with Caney Fork Farms, the Company’s ability to expand and strengthen its operations, the development of the Company’s ready-to-drink manufacturing facility in Webster City, Iowa, and the Company’s Farm-to-Formula® strategy. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section and other sections of the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts:
Crescendo Communications, LLC
212-671-1020
EDBL@crescendo-ir.com