While the local agriculture industry faces many challenges, the variety of opportunities for businesses continues to expand with community support, education on resilience methods, and increased demand for unique produce varieties, according to Gaining Ground Farm Owner Aaron Grier.

Unlike large wholesale-only farms, many of WNC’s farm businesses are small family-owned operations who know their customers personally. Many sell through tailgate markets once or twice per week, some have CSA programs, and some sell to several of the area’s restaurants featuring farm-to-table models.

As tourism has increased during the last 15 or so years, so has the popularity of local restaurants and markets. The trending popularity increases demand for fresh produce, which boosts business for local farms. Markets at varying elevations attract customers looking for different items at different times of the season, which supports the longevity of the market season in general.

While some local farms specialize in a specific product, others have seen the benefit of diversification. 

“We have tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, beets, carrots, lettuces, and herbs,” Grier said. “It means that our risk is spread out and it can be easier to bounce back. This also means that we do not have any one big cash crop which we are known for, so it’s kind of a double-edged sword.”

Diversification helps support the ability for direct-to-consumer sales, according to Grier. Growing large amounts of one product typically means a wholesale model, in which business owners would have to compete with grower markets in places like Florida and California, and likely earn a smaller profit. Heirloom varieties, which small producers often gravitate toward, help differentiate local businesses and boost demand for their products.

Local farm-to-table restaurants typically appreciate local produce varieties, and can help create remarkable dishes for seasonal menus.

“We’ll meet with chefs over the winter with seed catalogs,” Grier said. “Sometimes they ask for things that are impractical to grow, and sometimes certain varieties can be much easier. We build relationships with them, which depends on a lot of trust, but for many of us, that’s a big part of our businesses.”

With relationships built on good intentions, farming is a business susceptible to external factors. Weather has become an increasing concern for many in the area, and the current generation of farmers have seen monumental flooding, wind, and hail damage that older generations say they never had to deal with.

Grier said the business relationships, communities, and support organizations like ASAP regularly rally around farms damaged by weather events, and gather to discuss possibilities of becoming more resilient as these events become more common. Financial preparation and awareness of available support is imperative for farming businesses to stay afloat in the midst of potential disaster.

“It’s impossible to fight against softball-sized hail or four feet of water running through your farm, but you have to have an awareness that these kinds of situations can happen,” Grier said. “There’s a lot of education on what kind of support is out there through organizations like the USDA or Farm Service Agency. It’s these little things, and also the community support, is really what seems to reliably come through and lift everyone up.”