RALEIGH – Agritourism farms across the state are serving up a bounty of spring fun for the whole family. From exploring greenhouses and touring working farmlands to having breakfast with the Easter Bunny, there are dozens of ways to experience N.C. farms in April.
“Agritourism is a fun way for people to learn more about agriculture, and it is a great way to help North Carolina farmers add value to their operations,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With nearly 700 agritourism farms across the state, it’s easy to find and visit a farm near you.”
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers an online directory for individuals looking for agritourism experiences at www.visitncfarms.com. The directory is organized by county with categorical listings for types of farms, seasonal products and activities offered. Families can find farm activities down the street, or plan a trip to a different region of the state.
During April, many farms will offer educational activities, as well as egg hunts, crop mazes and farm-to-table dinners.
Spring is also a great time to visit pick-your-own strawberry farms. Visitors are encouraged to check strawberry availability as it varies across the state.
Following are some of the activities planned in April:
- April 4 – Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Parnell Farms in Bear Grass. (http://www.parnellfarms.com/events.html);
- April 11 – Barrel Tasting at Addison Farms Vineyards in Leicester. (http://www.addisonfarms.net/events/);
- April 18 – Spring Open House at Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse in King. (http://www.mitchellsnurseryandgreenhouse.com/events.html);
- April 24-26 – Mountain Wine Country Bud Break Weekend featuring several wineries from North Carolina and Georgia (http://www.mountainwinecountry.com/);
- April 25 and 26 – 20th Piedmont Farm Tour spread across 40 farms in Alamance, Chatham, Orange and Person counties (http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/pft/);
- Various dates and locations – pick-your-own strawberry farms (http://www.ncstrawberry.com/growers.cfm).
To learn how to get your nursery involved in agritourism, read Nursery Management's March 2014 cover story "Adventures in agritourism."