San Francisco based , Plenty Unlimited has opened of the world’s first indoor, vertical berry farm delivering commercial volumes of fruit.
Located in Richmond, Virginia, the Plenty Richmond Farm is set to produce over 4 million pounds ( nearly 2 million kilograms ) of strawberries annually, all grown vertically in a space of less than 40,000 square feet. This pioneering vertical hi-stack farm will exclusively grow Driscoll’s strawberries, combining Plenty’s cutting-edge technology with Driscoll’s advanced berry genetics. The first strawberries are expected to be available in early 2025.
Source: Plenty Unlimited -New facility
Source: Driscolls
The facility uses a 30-foot-tall vertical tower system maximising space efficiency while controlling every element, including temperature, light, and humidity, to create optimal growing conditions. Plenty’s AI-driven technology monitors millions of data points daily to ensure peak flavour, texture, and size for the strawberries. Even pollination is enhanced through a patent-pending method, moving away from traditional bee pollination to achieve uniform size and shape.
Source: Plenty Unlimited - Strawberry Growing stack
Beyond its technological advancements, the farm is environmentally friendly, using 97% less land and up to 90% less water compared to traditional farming.
The Richmond farm will supply fresh, local strawberries to over 100 million consumers within a one-day drive, reducing food miles and waste. The project, part of a larger $300 million campus, is expected to bring 300 jobs to Virginia, with 60 positions available immediately.
This innovation represents a leap forward for sustainable agriculture, promising high-quality, year-round produce while addressing land and resource challenges anywhere on Earth.
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