Reservoir Farms Expands to Washington State, Bringing Agricultural Robotics to Yakima Valley

The Salinas-based agricultural technology incubator will open its first Pacific Northwest location in spring 2027, focusing on robotics for tree fruit, blueberries and other high-value crops.

Reservoir Farms, the agricultural technology incubator founded in California's Salinas Valley, announced plans on October 20 to open a new location in Washington's Yakima Valley in spring 2027. The expansion will give robotics startups access to working farms where they can develop and test technology alongside growers and agricultural researchers.

The announcement, made at FIRA USA in Yakima, marks Reservoir's second expansion outside California, following its pilot program in Yuma, Arizona.

Washington is the nation's leading producer of apples, pears and sweet cherries, with more than $3 billion in high-value crop agriculture concentrated in the Yakima Valley. These crops present significant challenges for automation, particularly when harvesting delicate fruit without causing damage.

Labor costs are another concern. According to Washington State University, labor accounts for approximately 50% to 57% of variable costs for Washington apple growers.

"A machine that hasn't been through a Washington growing season isn't ready for one," said Ines Hanrahan, executive director of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission. "Building here, with growers involved from day one, is how we make sure our industry is robot ready, and the robots are ready for our industry."

Reservoir is developing the new site with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, the Tri-City Development Council and the North American Blueberry Council. It is also exploring a research partnership with Washington State University.

Initial testing will focus on tree fruit and blueberries, with additional work involving wine grapes and hops. Bonsai Robotics, Sky Sense, Cordon and Rootline Robotics are among the first startups expected to participate.

The expansion builds on Reservoir's existing partnerships with John Deere, which committed $10 million over three years, and Western Growers, which committed $1.5 million over the same period.

For Reservoir founder and CEO Danny Bernstein, the Washington site represents another opportunity to bring agricultural technology development closer to the growers who will ultimately use it.

"When you put builders on real farms with growers who will tell them the truth, rugged physical AI goes from prototype to production much faster," Bernstein said.

Learn more at Reservoir Farms.

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