Vertical farming startup 80 Acres Farms has filed for bankruptcy in federal court in Delaware, according to court records.
The filings show the company is seeking a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means it is seeking to liquidate its assets and pay off creditors rather than reorganize under a Chapter 11 filing. The filings come after the Hamilton-based grower of salad kits, herbs and other produce announced Aug. 3 it was “winding down” its operations after running out of money.
80 Acres has assets but also liabilities owed to creditors
Court filings show 80 Acres and its affiliates estimate between $110 million and $550 million in combined assets, but the liabilities they owe may wipe out those out. Together they may have more than 1,000 creditors.
Amid the shutdown, the company was also being suedby laid-off
workers and vendors.
Days after 80 Acres' initial announcement, a government filing in Ohio revealed the company had been prepared to sell itselfto an undisclosed rival before the deal fell through abruptly.
A sharp turn for the worse
The vertical farming company’s sudden demise was a sharp turn for a venture that had grown through a string of acquisitions in a turbulent industry. In August 2025, the company announced its takeover of Virginia-based Soli Organic, which was expected to increase combined sales to $200 million.
Founded in 2015, 80 Acres grew lettuce, herbs and other produce using LED lighting indoors in controlled, pesticide-free environments. It sold popular salad kits in more than 1,000 Kroger stores. After the Soli merger, it increased distribution to more than 17,000 stores, including Walmart, Meijer and H-E-B.
While 80 Acres appeared to thrive with consumers interested in healthier foods grown close to home, several challenges emerged in recent years. Those included rising grocery prices that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and got worse as gas prices spiked in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The U.S. war with Iran has kept gas prices high and fanned further inflation fears.
The company has also been challenged by a cyclosporiasis outbreakthis summer, which sickened more than 10,000 consumers and was blamed for depressed lettuce sales.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Vertical farm startup 80 Acres files bankruptcy to wind down business
