An opportunity for ownership and impact: Infarmers share an inside look at our culture

“At Infarm, you’re not just a plant grower or a business operations manager. You’re an Infarmer. And that means you’re part of a community that is committed to and passionate about improving the safety, quality and environmental footprint of our food around the world,” says Natalia Rieland, Vice President of People for Infarm in North America.

“Even though we’re an urban farming company, it’s not a requirement to have a background in plant science or agriculture to work here. We’re looking for people who are interested in our mission and the possibilities of our urban farming network,” she adds.

Our teams are growing fast, and we’re expanding globally with new partnerships throughout 10 countries, including the United States and Canada. We asked some of our Infarmers in North America to share more about Infarm’s culture of impact and growth, how our teams are helping shape the future of farming, and their advice for people interested in joining the team.

A global company with a startup feel

Infarm first launched in 2013 in Berlin, Germany. Now, with over 1,000 farms in major cities around the world, we’re doubling down on our growth in North America. In November 2019, we expanded to the United States for the first time through our partnership with Kroger’s QFC subsidiary. And we formed a partnership with Empire Company Ltd. in Canada in March 2020 to grow our produce in select Sobeys, Safeway and Thrifty Foods stores.

“One of the things that drew me to Infarm was its international reach. But because we’re at an earlier stage in North America, there’s so much opportunity to play a part in shaping our culture,” says Nicole C., Executive Assistant and Office Manager. “We’re a very innovative, creatively-fueled team. People take the initiative to fix things when they’re broken and find solutions where needed. That’s because people are really committed to our mission.”

Rachel D., a business operations manager, says, “It’s important to know that you’re joining a startup when you join our team in North America. Things move quickly, so we encourage people not to be afraid to make mistakes.”

Amy K., an expansion project manager, agrees. “Resiliency, and the ability to pivot quickly, are important qualities when working at any startup, particularly Infarm.”

Nicole adds, “You have to be ready and willing to learn a lot when you first join. Many people may not have a background in urban farming or ag tech, so being a self-starter and quick learner is helpful. But there’s such a collaborative culture and everyone is so friendly. That makes it easy to get up to speed and get involved in exciting projects in no time.”

A mission to change the world

Infarm was founded with a visionary mission to help cities become self-sufficient in their food production. With 7 billion people expected to live in urban centers by 2050, we’re re-defining the entire food supply chain from start to finish and distributing the farms themselves as close to the point of consumption as possible. That includes installing our modular farms right inside grocery stores, where shoppers have access to fresh, sustainable produce grown on-site.

“My favorite part about working at Infarm is how connected I feel to our mission. Every day, I get to come into work and do something I’m passionate about,” Amy says. “What we’re doing is so different from competitors. Rather than creating giant farming structures, Infarm’s farms can fit into any space — creating endless possibilities for increasing access to fresh produce.”

Mariah R., an interim business operations manager, says, “We’re disrupting the supply chain in a unique way. Many customers are new to our concept, and when I’m in our stores, I get a lot of questions. But they’re so interested in it, especially now during the pandemic.”

Natalia adds, “Once you taste the product, your taste buds just wake up. The herbs and lettuces are so flavorful!”

An environment where all voices are respected and heard

Everyone at Infarm is working towards a shared vision—from the executive leadership to the team members around the world who visit stores and distribution centers to harvest produce.

Rachel says, “Infarm is the first company I’ve worked at where people are genuinely themselves when you meet them. Everyone has a lot of passion and tends to join the company because it aligns with their values around sustainability.”

Mariah adds, “Because Infarm is new to North America, there is a lot of potential for upward mobility, no matter where you’re at in your career. I started as a plant expert, and have grown quickly into new roles. I appreciate working for a company that encourages your growth.”

“Everyone has a voice. Our leadership team believes in and values everyone’s expertise, no matter their role,” Molly B., project manager, says. “We’re a growing company, and we want to find people with enthusiasm and potential. People can grow into different roles, and the opportunities are really endless.”

Interested in becoming an Infarmer? We’d love to hear from you.