City Ranked as 10th Most Vegan-Friendly City in the U.S.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) notified Mayor Dwight C. Jones today that the city of Richmond has been ranked as the 10th Most Vegan-Friendly City in the U.S. PETA, in releasing its Top Ten listing, noted the fact that the capital of the Commonwealth hosted festivals celebrating compassionate culture and is home to many vegan-friendly restaurants, bakeries, bars and businesses led to the city’s ranking.

In accepting the recognition Mayor Jones stated, “I would like to thank everyone at PETA for this acknowledgement of our City. Richmond has a variety of meat-free restaurants such as 821 Café, Rooster Cart, Phoenix Garden, Harrison St. Cafe, Ipanema, and the bakery RVA Vegan. Establishments such as these contributed to creating an environment for not only eating healthy, but living healthy.”

Mayor Jones introduced the Healthy Richmond Campaign in October 2011 to actively engage the public with a variety of health promotions and health education activities, while encouraging individuals and the community at large to embrace the healthy Richmond concept of getting healthy and staying healthy. “I commend all of the eateries and festivals in the city that are geared towards a healthy and active lifestyle for helping RVA earn this PETA recognition. Let us continue to work to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors,” said Mayor Jones.

Upcoming festivals in the city that not only aided in obtaining the PETA 10th vegan-friendly city ranking, but also promote a healthier Richmond are the Richmond Vegetarian Festival and RVA Streets Alive!. This year’s Richmond Vegetarian Festival takes place on Saturday, June 15 from noon to 6 p.m. in the Azalea Gardens in Joseph Bryan Park. On Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., RVA Streets Alive! will close a 2.5-mile loop of city streets to automobile traffic to allow residents and visitors to use these streets to be active through running, walking, biking, and many other physical activities. Both events are free and the public is strongly encouraged to attend.