Farm Fresh NORTH CAROLINA Farm Fresh NORTH CAROLINA THE GO-TO GUIDE TO GREAT Farmers’ Markets • Farm Stands Farms • Apple Orchards • U-Picks • Kids’ Activities • Lodging • Dining Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees • Vineyards and Wineries • and More Diane Daniel The University of North Carolina Press Chapel Hill A SOUTHERN GATEWAYS GUIDE The publication of this book was supported by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. © 2011 Diane Daniel. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. Designed by Courtney Leigh Baker. Set in Whitman with Bello and Gotham display by Tseng Information Systems, Inc. The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. The University of North Carolina Press has been a member of the Green Press Initiative since 2003. Frontispiece: Photograph by Selina Kok. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Daniel, Diane. Farm fresh North Carolina : the go-to guide to great farmers’ markets, farm stands, farms, apple orchards, U-picks, kids’ activities, lodging, dining, choose-and-cut Christmas trees, vineyards and wineries, and more / Diane Daniel. p. cm.—(A Southern gateways guide) “The publication of this book was supported by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.” Includes bibliographical references and index. iSBn 978-0-8078-7182-9 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. North Carolina—Guidebooks. 2. North Carolina—Tours. 3. Farms— North Carolina—Guidebooks. 4. Farmers’ markets—North Carolina— Guidebooks. 5. Agriculture—North Carolina—Guidebooks. i. Title. F252.3.D36 2011 975.6′044—dc22 2010032655 15 14 13 12 11 5 4 3 2 1 For my parentS, Kitty anD Dan Daniel, who raised me right, and right here, in North Carolina anD For lina WeSSel KoK, my partner in life and all its adventures, near and far This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS introDuction  •  1 How to Use This Book  •  4 Tips for Visiting Farms  •  8 Mountains  •  11 Farms  •  11 Farm Stands and U-Picks  •  30 Apple Orchards, Apple Stands, and U-Picks  •  38 Farmers’ Markets  •  42 Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees  •  46 Vineyards and Wineries  •  54 Stores  •  56 Dining  •  61 Lodging  •  71 Special Events and Activities  •  78 Recipes  •  83 Charlotte Area  •  89 Farms  •  89 Farm Stands and U-Picks  •  99 Farmers’ Markets  •  101 Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees  •  102 Vineyards and Wineries  •  103 Stores  •  106 Dining  •  107 Recipes  •  111 Triad  •  117 Farms  •  117 Farm Stands and U-Picks  •  125 Farmers’ Markets  •  129 Vineyards and Wineries  •  130 Stores  •  139 Dining  •  139 Special Events and Activities  •  142 Recipes  •  145 Triangle  •  149 Farms  •  149 Farm Stands and U-Picks  •  172 Farmers’ Markets  •  176 Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees  •  179 Vineyards and Wineries  •  181 Stores  •  182 Dining  •  185 Lodging  •  195 Special Events and Activities  •  195 Recipes  •  199 Coastal Region and Sandhills  •  205 Farms  •  205 Farm Stands and U-Picks  •  214 Farmers’ Markets  •  228 Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees  •  231 Vineyards and Wineries  •  232 Stores  •  234 Dining  •  236 Lodging  •  240 Special Events and Activities  •  241 Recipes  •  244 agriculture 101: Some Farm Terms Defined  •  249 county-By-county liStingS  •  251 reSourceS: Where to Go for More Information  •  269 giving thanKS  •  273 inDex  •  277