In the rolling foothills around Asheville, farms do more than feed the region—they connect people to the land, to each other, and to the enduring spirit of Appalachian agriculture.
Visit Hickory Nut Gap in Fairview
Family farms abound in and around Asheville—and Fairview's bucolic Hickory Nut Gap is as family as they come. Both Hickory Nut Gap and the adjacent Flying Cloud Farms sit on land settled in 1916 by Jim and Elizabeth McClure. Five generations of their descendants have since farmed the property.
Hickory Nut Gap’s seasonal fall festivities include pumpkins, hayrides, fresh-pressed apple cider, pony rides and family-friendly farm activities, along with opportunities to visit pigs and piglets, baby chicks and a bee observatory. The farm store and butchery carries Hickory Nut Gap meats, prepared foods and local goods.
See more of what Asheville has to offer on the farm front through ASAP’s Farm Tour, a self-guided driving tour of Western North Carolina farms. The 2026 Farm Tour takes place Sept. 19–20, with participating farms located within an hour of Asheville.
ASAP also maintains its 2026–2027 Local Food Guide, with online listings for local farms, markets, u-pick options, farm stands, visitor activities, CSAs and more. You can also join an Asheville Farm to Table Food Tour for a guided experience.
Where can I find local cheese near Asheville?
Follow the WNC Cheese Trail
In Asheville and the surrounding mountains, artisan cheese is part of the region’s larger farm-to-table story. The WNC Cheese Trail offers a way to explore local and regional cheesemakers, creameries and specialty stops, and many local cheeses can also be found at tailgate markets across the area.
Where can I pick apples near Asheville?
Head toward Henderson County and nearby orchards
From the NC Apple Festival, returning Sept. 4-7,2026, in downtown Hendersonville, to u-pick farms and roadside markets, harvest time means apples abound in WNC. Henderson County is one of North Carolina’s top apple-growing areas, with orchards, farm stands and seasonal u-pick experiences throughout the harvest season. Besides apples, expect to find baked goods, cider, hayrides and other harvest-time festive fun.
A bit farther afield in Spruce Pine, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 328, The Orchard at Altapass celebrates Appalachian culture through music, storytelling, and mountain heritage. There you'll find 280 acres rich with heirloom apples (ripe for the picking beginning in July), and a general store selling jars of apple butter, cider, and much more.
