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🎧 Sounds like: "Wait a Minute!" by Willow Smith.

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Today's newsletter is 1,086 words — a 4-minute read.

Apple-picking season is here, but one of fall's favorite pastimes could be shorter or sparser at some Virginia orchards after a devastating spring freeze.

Why it matters: Spring freezes wreaked havoc on Virginia farms, causing an estimated $32 million to $105 million in agricultural losses and wiping out nearly entire apple crops in some areas.

Driving the news: Virginia's apple crop is expected to come in at 40% to 60% of a normal year, James Atwell of the Virginia Apple Board tells Axios.

• The Winchester area was hit hardest, with losses estimated at 60% to 80%.
• Popular apple-picking destinations near NoVa, like Stribling Orchard, are already warning of limited picking this season.
• And earlier-maturing varieties, including Gala, Honeycrisp and Ginger Gold, appear to have suffered the most.

The intrigue: Central and Southwest Virginia fared better, Atwell says, thanks in part to higher elevations and different microclimates.

• The popular Carter Mountain Orchard, about an hour from Richmond, continues offering pick-your-own apples, as of yesterday.

Zoom in: The damage can vary dramatically even within the same farm and region.

• Fruit Hill Orchard in Palmyra says it lost the majority of its apple crops and will source apples from other Virginia growers.
• Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards in Nelson County canceled two pick-your-own events after the spring frost severely damaged its lower-lying orchards.
• Its higher-elevation ones, however, produced a "beautiful crop" and other picking events remain scheduled.

What they're saying: "The level of damage we are seeing is unlike anything I've observed in apples over the past eight years at Virginia Tech," wrote Sherif Sherif, an associate professor of horticulture at Tech.

The bottom line: Check an orchard's site before planning a picking trip.

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Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will remain open as dozens of workers strike for higher wages and their first union contract.

Why it matters: The workers say they're prepared for a prolonged walkout, while the Garden's leadership says they've presented their best and final offer.

State of play: Around 58 Lewis Ginter workers went on strike Wednesday, per the union.

• The botanical garden says it has 130 staff members. But not all workers were eligible for the union, Garden operations assistant and union member Calvin Ashley tells Axios.
• The two sides have agreed to most of the proposed collective bargaining agreement, per the Garden, but "wages remain the central unresolved issue," per the union.

Zoom in: The union is seeking a $2 hourly rate increase for all members, whose average wage is currently $17.52 an hour.

• That's less than their initial ask of a $3.50 hourly bump.

The other side: The Garden says it covers 94% of employees' health insurance costs, plus retirement contributions and paid time off, adding that its wages are in line with those at other cultural institutions.

• The union's proposed wage increase "is simply not sustainable" for the organization, it says.

What's next: The union says its workers plan to picket in front of the Garden gates daily from 9 to 5 "until the Garden offers a decent contract."

More on the fallout and community support

Richmond City Councilmember Kenya Gibson is calling for an independent investigation into allegations that RRHA maintenance workers sought sexual favors from residents in exchange for completing work orders. (The Richmonder)

• RRHA's Board Chair says the housing authority investigated the complaints and rejected Gibson's criticism.

🚌 Short Pump Middle School closed yesterday due to extreme heat and high classroom temperatures, despite overnight repairs and portable AC units. (WRIC)

• Harvie Elementary dismissed students early the day before because of similar conditions.

⛽️ Seven Midlothian homes were evacuated after a contractor struck a gas line near Watch Hill and Walton Park roads. The line is now safe, but road closures remain. (WTVR)

⚾️ Flying Squirrels owner Lou DiBella amended his defamation lawsuit against Diamond District developer Jason Guillot, alleging Guillot leaked a memo about their altercation to damage his reputation.

• The filing also acknowledges DiBella told Guillot he'd "love to bitch slap" him, but DiBella says the remark was made jokingly.
• Guillot declined to comment on the amended complaint. (BizSense)

It's been 10 years since Richmond's Confederate statues inspired artist Kehinde Wiley to create "Rumors of War" as a counter-response.

The big picture: The 27-foot-tall bronze sculpture shows a Black man with a top knot and Nikes on horseback, mirroring Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's monument.

Zoom in: Wiley — broadly known for his painting of former President Obama — visited Richmond in summer 2016, and premiered "Rumors of War" in New York three years later.

• The unveiling came months after the Boulevard was renamed for Richmond tennis legend Arthur Ashe.
• The sculpture moved to its now-permanent home in front of the VMFA — which bought it for $2 million — that December.
• Seven months later, the city took down the Stuart monument, which towered over Monument Avenue for over a century.

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Two newly opened restaurants have quickly become some of the hottest tables in town.

Why it matters: If you don't like waiting in line, you may want to wait a bit before checking them out.

State of play: Antonelli's Deli in the Museum District and Pizzeria Delores in Scott's Addition just opened with very different concepts, but one thing in common: big crowds and plenty of local buzz.

Zoom in: Antonelli's Deli specializes in Italian-inspired gourmet sandwiches served on housemade bread.

• On the menu: Six speciality sandwiches ($13-$14) including the Rome (salami, capicola and mortadella), plus a few pizzettes (that's small pizzas, $7-8).

Over in Scott's Addition: Pizzeria Delores is slinging Sicilian-style square pies with big retro vibes — think vintage Pizza Hut, but cooler.

• On the menu: specialty pies like House Pie #1 with ricotta, jalapeños and spicy honey, build-your-own pizzas ($21-$35).

The bottom line: Richmonders have two buzzy new spots to add to their dining lists.

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🤔 Karri is wondering what folks think of waiting in long lines for food. Hit reply and tell her.

🤠 Sabrina personally has so much fun waiting in line just for the bit, as she proved last year.

Thanks to Alexa Mencia Orozco for editing today's edition