ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has announced that 21 farms will be participating in the 2024 Farm Tour, taking place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21–22, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
All farms are located within an hour of Asheville. Tourgoers will experience working farms through guided and self-guided tours, demonstrations, interacting with farm animals, u-pick fruit and flowers, local food and drink tastings, and more. Spanish-language tours will be offered at several farms. The Farm Tour is appropriate for attendees of all ages and abilities.
Farms on the tour showcase the diversity of agriculture in the region, from vegetables to livestock, orchards to homesteads. Nine farms, noted with an asterisk, are new to the tour in 2024, including six in Polk and Rutherford counties. In the past, Polk and Rutherford farms have been part of the NC Foothills Farm Tour, but this year will be included on ASAP’s Farm Tour instead. The Farm Tour features five geographic clusters to help visitors maximize their time at farms. Tourgoers should select two to four farms to visit each day, spending around an hour at each. Descriptions of farm offerings, plus a map, driving directions, and tour tips, are available at asapconnections.org/farmtour. A free printed guide will also be available in mid-August.
Barnardsville Cluster
*The Never Ending Flower Farm
Burley Stick Farm
Good Fibrations Angora Goats & Fine Yarns
Foothills Cluster
*Encompass Farm
Wild East Farm
Crow Fly Farms
Lee’s One Fortune Farm
Henderson Cluster
Stump Farms
Marked Tree Vineyard
Raspberry Fields
Pilot Mountain Pears
Polk Cluster
*San Felipe Farm
*Looking Glass Creamery
*TK Family Farm
*Overmountain Vineyards
*Caitlyn Farms
Candler/Canton Cluster
*Herb Mamma
KT’s Orchard & Apiary
Two Trees Farm (Sustainabillies)
*The Ruby Ranch
Smoking J’s Fiery Foods
“Opening local farms to the public demystifies rural agricultural life and reconnects folks to the beauty of this shared place,” said Lyric East of Wild East Farm, who is participating in the farm tour for the second year. “There is so much wisdom held in the hands and hearts of folks who live in close relationship with the land, and the Farm Tour is an opportunity for the greater community to share in and expand that wisdom.”
Advance passes are on sale now for $35 at asapconnections.org/farmtour. One pass admits a carload of visitors to all farms both days. Pending availability, passes purchased the weekend of the tour will be $45. ASAP is also seeking volunteers to help staff the tour. In exchange for working one day of the tour, volunteers may attend for free on the other day. Sign up at asapconnections.org/farmtour.
Themed lists, which categorize farms based on specific interest, can help attendees tailor their Farm Tour experience. The Tasty Tour, sponsored by Explore Asheville, includes farms with food and beverages that you can sample during the tour. The “Show Me How It’s Done” Tour, sponsored by Rutherford County TDA, features farms with education and demonstrations on how to produce your own food or use specific techniques. The “Find Us on the Menu” Tour, sponsored by Red Fiddle Vittles, highlights farms whose ingredients you can find at restaurants. The Kids Tour, sponsored by WNC Magazine, offers activities geared toward kids.
Top level sponsorship also comes from the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority. Media sponsors are WNC Magazine, The Laurel of Asheville, and Asheville FM. Additional funding was provided by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Dogwood Health Trust, and Sunshine Now Foundation. Find a full list of sponsors at asapconnections.org/farmtour.
Written by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.