ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A new report from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is offering a detailed look at how local farms are faring more than a year after Tropical Storm Helene, highlighting economic pressures and signs of recovery across Western North Carolina and the broader Appalachian Grown region.
The findings come from ASAP’s 2025 Appalachian Grown Producer Survey, which tracks changes in farm businesses, market access, costs and production trends.
The survey was conducted about 14 months after Helene and reached 886 farmers across Western North Carolina and parts of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Of those, 268 responded, a 30 percent response rate. Most farms in the network are small, family-run operations that sell directly to consumers and local markets.
“The annual producer survey is a critical tool for ASAP to gather farmer insights and to understand changes in the business of farming in our Appalachian Grown region,” said Jessica Ruiz, ASAP’s community research coordinator and lead author of the report. “Following Hurricane Helene, 2025 was an important year to assess how farms were doing, changing needs, and what is working well, so that ASAP can be responsive in its support and offerings to our farm partners.”
Sales rebound, but costs continue to climb
One of the clearest takeaways from the report is that farm sales improved in 2025 compared with 2024, with increases reported across multiple market channels.
Sales to restaurants and agritourism operations — both of which declined in the year following Helene — showed signs of recovery. On-farm stores and farm stands saw some of the strongest gains.
Even so, farmers reported persistent financial pressure. The survey found that 80 percent of farms with steady production and 89 percent of those with decreased production still experienced rising material costs.
Local focus remains strong
Despite shifting conditions, the report shows that most farms continue to rely heavily on local markets. About 91 percent of all farm sales occurred within the Appalachian Grown region.
That local emphasis, researchers say, remains a defining feature of the region’s food system.
Land ownership increases
The survey also points to a notable shift in land access. About 68 percent of respondents reported owning all of their farmland, up 9 percentage points from 2024. Only 7 percent said they lease all of their land.
Researchers say ownership trends can play a key role in long-term stability for small farms.
Majority of farmers still early in their careers
The report found that 60 percent of respondents are considered “New and Beginning” farmers, defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as having 10 years or less of farming experience.
That demographic continues to shape the region’s agricultural landscape, especially as newer farmers navigate post-disaster recovery and rising costs.
Hope amid ongoing challenges
While many respondents cited economic uncertainty and lingering effects from Hurricane Helene, the survey also captured a strong sense of resilience.
One farmer described a “silver lining” in growing public awareness of food system fragility and community reliance.
“One of the silver linings of the poly-crisis we are experiencing is that the public is increasingly aware of the fragility of our food systems, how interdependent we are, and how critical our neighbors are to our survival,” the farmer wrote.