Plenty Unlimited Inc. announced Sept. 24 the opening of its Richmond, Virginia, controlled-environment facility that will vertically farm berries at scale in this indoor farm.
Combining Plenty’s cutting-edge technology, Driscoll’s long legacy of strawberry farming, and data from 200 research trials over the last six years, Plenty can provide consistent berry quality year-round in areas that have limited year-round access, particularly in the Northeast. These strawberries are grown on 30-foot towers in a facility designed for more than 4 million pounds in annual strawberry production in a 40,000-square-foot space.
The 12 grow rooms are precisely monitored and controlled by utilizing millions of data points, which are then analyzed with artificial intelligence and adjust the necessary elements of the rooms. This includes light, temperature, humidity, and pollination.
The 120-acre Richmond Farm Campus is projected to cost $300 million and bring over 300 jobs to Virginia, making it the largest indoor, vertical farm in the world. The now opened Richmond Farm is the first to open on the campus and is expected to provide roughly 60 jobs.
Both Plenty’s modular growing system and its controlled airflow pollination system are patent pending. The facilities also expect to reduce food miles and waste by being a local produce provider, and expect to reduce farm land use by 97% and water by 90% when compared to conventionally farmed strawberries.
Plenty will exclusively grow Driscoll’s strawberries. The first crop from the facility is expected in early 2025.
Photo: Plenty Unlimited Inc.
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