Edible Garden Extends CEA Platform Into Ready-to-Drink Beverages
March 6, 2026 
Photo: Edible Garden
Edible Garden has announced a strategic expansion of its Zero-Waste Inspired platform through the development of a state-of-the-art ready-to-drink (RTD) manufacturing initiative at its facility in the Midwest. The expansion is driven in large part by increasing demand from major national retailers for scalable, high-quality, and reliable RTD solutions capable of delivering clean-label, shelf-stable nutrition at scale.
This initiative reflects the company’s evolution into a vertically integrated domestic clean-label nutrition platform that combines CEA, scalable aseptic capacity, and differentiated brands across sports nutrition, adult and children’s performance nutrition, and GLP-1 supportive categories. As part of this initiative, Tetra Pak will handle the planning, installation, and integration of proprietary processing at the Edible Garden Midwest facility.
Scaling at Edible Garden’s Midwest Facility
Edible Garden’s Midwest facility encompasses more than 200,000 square feet of food-grade manufacturing space supported by extensive warehousing and logistics infrastructure. The site is being transformed into a dedicated RTD and clean nutrition hub designed to support aseptic and ultra-filtered beverage production across protein, plant-based, dairy, and functional categories. The platform represents the manufacturing foundation of Edible Garden’s Farm-to-Formula strategy, connecting its CEA capabilities with advanced R&D and precision formulation.
This integrated approach is designed to deliver traceable, sustainably produced ingredients for finished functional beverage applications at a commercial scale. Proprietary processing systems and advanced aseptic carton packaging technology supplied by Tetra Pak will protect product quality and extend shelf life without refrigeration or preservatives. These systems enable efficient ambient distribution while maintaining strict clean-label standards.
Phase 1 of production is anticipated to begin in Q1 2027. Upon completion, the facility is expected to serve as a scalable innovation platform supporting product development and diversification beyond fresh perishables into higher-margin, shelf-stable beverage categories.
The Global RTD Market and CEA’s Role in It
The global RTD market was valued at approximately $766 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $1.3 trillion by 2030, driven by accelerating consumer demand for clean ingredients, functional benefits, and convenience. Edible Garden believes this expansion positions it to capture meaningful share in this high-growth segment while reinforcing its disciplined operational and environmental framework.
Says Jim Kras, CEO of Edible Garden: “This initiative represents a significant milestone in our strategic evolution and disciplined expansion into higher-margin, shelf-stable categories.”