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Agricultural Trail

Appalachian Mountain Farming

Facing a steady increase in the population of the North Carolina mountains and changes wrought by modern technology, Appalachian mountain farmers today have blended many innovative ideas with traditional farming techniques, resulting in a diversified and strengthened agricultural economy.

Traditional Crops

Traditional crops such as corn, tomatoes, apples and peaches continue to be grown widely in the North Carolina mountains.

For decades, burley tobacco has been a mainstay cash crop and a way of life for mountain farmers. But rising fuel costs and the end of federal price supports have recently led thousands of tobacco farmers to accept the terms of a federal buyout and quit growing the crop. Many of these farmers are compensating by expanding their produce and livestock operations, while others have sought new crops to replace the tobacco that was once their mainstay.

New Crops

Christmas trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbs, native medicinal and culinary herbs, traditional wild foods and organic vegetables have become vital to the agricultural economy of the region. Aquaculture has increased to such an extent that North Carolina is now second in the nation in trout production.

Viticulture has also spread in popularity, as new vineyards and wineries are established along the eastern edge of the mountain region. The Yadkin Valley, home to 14 wineries, is North Carolina's first federally-recognized American Viticultural Area.