Berry exciting news 🍓

Plenty bringing largest vertical farm campus in the world to Richmond, VA

Two farmers work in a vertical farm plant.

The Richmond Farm Campus will be the first on the east coast for Plenty. | Photo provided

Indoor vertical farming is coming to Chesterfield. Governor Glenn Youngkin + county leaders announced a partnership with Plenty Unlimited Inc. at a press conference yesterday.

The Plenty Richmond Farm Campus will be the world’s largest indoor vertical farm campus.

Plenty’s model of production grows crops 365 days a year in a controlled environment. Leaders emphasized how vertical farming increases yield while reducing waste + maintaining flavor.

“We’re on a mission to sustainably grow fresh food for everyone, everywhere,” Plenty CEO Arama Kukutai said.

The first phase of the farm will grow the California-based Driscoll’s strawberries. It should be open by winter 2023-2024.

Plenty expects to bring leafy greens + snacking tomatoes to the campus as well.

“We hope to not just create hundreds of millions of dollars of investment, but hundreds of jobs, and to have this be a historic moment in the development of indoor farming not just for Virginia, but globally,” Kukutai said.

Glenn Youngkin stands in front of a Plenty display, answering press questions. — Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the development in Chesterfield. | Photo by RICtoday

By the numbers

💸 $300 million | The amount Plenty will invest in its Meadowville Technology Park campus over the next six years.

🌳 120 | The acres Plenty has acquired to build its campus.

💼 300 | The number of jobs the campus is expected to bring to VA.

🍓 4 million | The number of pounds of strawberries Driscoll’s intends to produce out of Chesterfield, annually.

🥬 20 million | The potential annual production capacity across multiple crops.

Bonus: Plenty has information on future career opportunities on its website.

Grow ahead and share this story with your friends + family.

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Today

Fall Fest | Thurs., Sept. 15-Sun., Sept. 18 | Times vary | Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop, 3406 W. Leigh St. | Free entry | Celebrate autumn with brand new seasonal beers, food trucks + merch.
Chris Staples + David Shultz | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 6:30 p.m. | Sefton Supply Basement, 26 N. 8th St. | $10 | Have some coffee or wine + enjoy an intimate basement show. 🎶
City Stadium Happy Hour | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | City Stadium | Free (food and drinks available for purchase) | Richmonders are invited to enjoy live music from Twin Brothers Band, bites from Cocina Calle, and drink specials from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (including $3 Heineken pints). 🍻 *

Friday

Lewis Ginter Fall PlantFest | Fri., Sept. 16-Sat., Sept. 17 | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | Free entry | One of Central Virginia’s most-anticipated plant sales. 🌱
“Brazil” | Fri., Sept. 16 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $8 | See the Terry Gilliam cult classic on the big screen. 🍿

Saturday

Afrikana Artist Talks: dana washington-queen & Leila Weefur | Sat., Sept. 17 | 2 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art | Free, RSVP | The two California-based artists will speak on their art as part of the Afrikana Independent Film Festival.
Reading and Q&A with Kathy Davis | Sat., Sept. 17 | 5 p.m. | Visual Arts Center of Richmond, 1812 W. Main St. | Free | The Rockville-based poet and author will read from her manuscript, “Passiflora.”
Friends of The Library Drive Through Book Drive | Sat., Sept. 17 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | RPL Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St. | Free | Get a tax deduction when you donate your used hardbacks, paperbacks, CDs and DVDs. 📚

Plan Ahead

Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon | Sat., Nov. 12 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Brown’s Island | $40-$110 (varies by race distance) | Richmonders are invited to celebrate the 45th Allianz Partners marathon with a course that runs through scenic + historic sections of the city, including along and across the beautiful James River. *

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

83º | Sunny | 5% chance of rain

Opening

A new Chipotle is opening at 14171 Midlothian Tpke. tomorrow at 10:45 a.m. The first 50 customers will get complimentary merch. The new location will also have a “Chipotlane” for drive-thru pickup of digital orders. 🌯

Closing

Local video game store Bits and Pixels will close on Fri., Sept. 30. The Carytown shop opened 14 years ago. The Facebook announcement invites customers to share memories + photos on the page. 👾

Festival

You herb it here first. Richmond VegFest is this Sat., Sept. 17 from 12-6 p.m. at Byrd Park. The free fest will include dozens of vendors, live music, and a kid’s area. 🥕
The stages are set for VA Pridefest, which will take place Sat., Sept. 24 from 12-8 p.m. on Brown’s Island. The event announced the schedule of performers for its two stages. Headliners Leikeli47, Rosé, and Big Freedia will be on starting at 5:30 p.m. 🌈
Organizers released the full schedule for the Richmond Folk Festival (Oct.7-9). The 18th anniversary of the free festival will have six stages and performances from 30+ groups. 🪕

History

A new exhibit is open at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. “Forging Freedom, Justice and Equality” covers an array of topics about Black history in Virginia with 100+ photographs and artifacts. It will be open until Sat., April 29. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Transit

Mark your calendar for a virtual Transit Talk on Thurs., Sept. 22 at 12 p.m. Tim Barham + Mike Frontiero of GRTC will talk about expanding public transit and the ongoing bus operator shortage. Register to get the Zoom link. 🚌

Cause

Kroger has started its annual peanut butter drive for Feeding America + local food banks. From now through Tues., Oct. 11, purchase peanut butter (any brand) at a Kroger location + drop it off in a donation bin at the front of the store. 🥜
ICYMI, local artist Matt Lively is painting a mural at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s new Wonder Tower. The mural features animals of the James River doing imaginative activities — and Richmonders are encouraged to submit additional mural elements for consideration (or simply make a donation to the project). 🎨 *

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How to vote in upcoming elections

Election Day is Tues., Nov. 8.

🗳 How to vote

Register, update your registration, or apply for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal on the VA Dept. of Elections website.

Find your polling place to vote on Election Day. Polls are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

If you want to vote early in-person, head to the local registrar’s office (for Richmond, that’s 2314 W. Laburnum Ave.).

Pro tip: You need an acceptable form of ID to vote.

🗓 Important dates

Fri., Sept. 23 | First day of in-person early voting
Mon., Oct. 17 | Deadline to register
Fri., Oct. 28 | Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you
Sat., Nov. 5 | Last day of in-person early voting
Tues., Nov. 8 | Election Day

Click the button below to read up on what’s changed since last election + what’s on the ballot this time around.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: This weekend is the RVA Street Art Festival. The party starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday at Haxall Canal Hydro Plant. I’ll be there — if you see me, say hey. 👋

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn the ABCs of Richmond restaurants.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Katie Potter, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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