About
Visit NC Farms connects residents and travelers with authentic agricultural experiences across North Carolina.
From U-pick farms and vineyards to farm stays, tours, markets and seasonal events, the program makes it easier to discover working farms and experience North Carolina agriculture firsthand.
What Visit NC Farms Offers
Find farms and events, plan seasonal outings and stay connected with North Carolina agriculture.
- Find Farms + Experiences: Search by Near Me, region, county or category.
- Explore Events: Find seasonal events, tours, workshops and other opportunities to experience working farms.
- Plan Farm Adventures: Discover trip ideas, seasonal inspiration and farm stories to help plan your next visit.
- Stay Connected: Follow us on social media and subscribe to the newsletter for new experiences, events and travel inspiration.
Agritourism in North Carolina
Agritourism creates opportunities for working farms to diversify revenue while giving residents and travelers meaningful ways to experience North Carolina agriculture.
Farm tours, U-pick operations, markets, farm stays, workshops, tastings and seasonal events connect visitors directly with farmers, food and rural communities.
Agriculture and tourism are major contributors to North Carolina’s economy.
Food, fiber and forestry generate $117 billion in statewide economic impact, while North Carolina welcomes about 40 million visitors annually, with visitor spending reaching a record $37.2 billion in 2025.
Agritourism brings these sectors together, connecting residents and travelers with working farms, agricultural experiences and rural communities.
North Carolina Agritourism by the Numbers
Source: USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, Agritourism and Recreational Services on U.S. Farms data brief
982 N.C. Farms
Reporting Agritourism
$30.4 million
Total Value of Receipts 2022
+28%
since 2017
For Community Partners + Stakeholders
Visit NC Farms work with educators, tourism organizations, agricultural partners and community leaders to strengthen connections between farms, visitors and communities across North Carolina.
Partners can connect with the program to share resources, participate in meetings and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Media
Looking for a North Carolina agriculture or agritourism story? Visit NC Farms can connect journalists with farms, agricultural experiences, regional story ideas, background information, photos and potential sources across the state.
North Carolina Agritourism in the News
See recent media coverage featuring North Carolina farms, agritourism experiences and connections to agriculture across the state.
USA TODAY 10Best | 2026
Best Farm Stay: 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards
Ivy Fields Farm and Juneberry Ridge earned national recognition among the country’s top farm stays.
USA TODAY 10Best | 2026
Best Apple Orchard: 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards
Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock was recognized among the nation’s top apple orchards.
Food & Wine | Sept. 22, 2026
12 Fall Farm Stands Worth Planning a Weekend Around
Includes Grandad’s Apples in Hendersonville among fall farm destinations across the country.
Food & Wine | 2026
Shuck It, We’re Going Oyster Farming, With Tours From California to Florida
Features N. Sea Oyster Co. and North Carolina’s coastal aquaculture experiences in a national look at oyster farm tourism.
Food & Wine | June 5, 2026
North Carolina Wine Has a 400-Year History — and a Fast-Growing Future
Explores the history, agriculture and visitor experiences shaping North Carolina’s wine industry.
Travel + Leisure | April 4, 2026
Hendersonville: The Heart of North Carolina’s Apple Country
Highlights orchards and agricultural experiences as part of a visit to Hendersonville and the surrounding apple country.
Spectrum News 1 | April 6, 2026
Forsyth County Tulip Farm Blossoms as Agritourism Grows Across North Carolina
Features Dewberry Farm in Kernersville and examines agritourism as a way for North Carolina farms to diversify and connect with visitors.
NC Tripping | April 25, 2026
Visiting Mike’s Farm: A Truly Special Place in Eastern NC
Highlights Mike’s Farm and the agricultural experiences that have made the Onslow County farm a visitor destination.
The Assembly | Dec. 12, 2025
Pining for Something Real at Frosty’s Tree Farm
Explores North Carolina’s choose-and-cut Christmas tree farming tradition in Ashe County.
RFD-TV | May 20, 2026
Former Tobacco Farm Grows into North Carolina Family Destination
Shares how Smith’s Farm Market in Benson diversified from tobacco into produce, U-pick experiences and other farm-based activities.
Press Releases
Visitors can now find statewide agritourism activities through Visit NC Farms website
Friday, October 03, 2025 RALEIGH- People looking for fun agritourism activities this fall can now find statewide listings through the Visit NC Farms website as the platform transitions from a mobile app to expand access for farms and visitors.
Visit NC Farms and NC Eat & Play team up to spotlight agritourism across the state
Monday, August 25, 2025 RALEIGH – Visit NC Farms, the statewide initiative connecting North Carolina residents and travelers with agritourism operations, has partnered with Megan Nichols, founder of NC Eat & Play, a local content creator, to drive awareness and increase visitation for agritourism operations across the state with a social media, newsletter and blog campaign running through next year.
Curious to learn more about our programs?
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers marketing programs like Got to be NC, NC Wine and more. They support local farmers, North Carolina-made products and agribusiness growth beyond agritourism.
These initiatives promote the quality, variety, and economic impact of locally grown food and North Carolina farm products.
By choosing NC-grown products, consumers, chefs, and retailers support local agriculture, strengthen small businesses, and help preserve the state’s farming heritage.
Thank you for supporting North Carolina agriculture.
Visit NC Farms is brought to you by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, with support from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. The commission helps farms, especially those once reliant on tobacco, diversify and grow through education, agritourism, and community programs.
