ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) announced 18 farms participating in the 2026 Farm Tour, taking place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19–20, noon to 5p.m. All farms are located within an hour of Asheville. Tourgoers will experience working farms through guided and self-guided tours, demonstrations, interacting with farm animals, u-pick fruit and flowers, local food and drink tastings, and more. Spanish-language tours will be offered at several farms. The Farm Tour is appropriate for attendees of all ages and abilities.
Farms on the tour showcase the diversity of agriculture in the region, from vegetables to livestock, orchards to homesteads. Seven farms, noted with an asterisk, are new to the tour in 2026. The Farm Tour features five clusters to help visitors maximize their time at farms. Tourgoers should select two to four farms to visit each day, spending around an hour at each. Descriptions of farm offerings, plus a map, driving directions, and tour tips, are available at asapconnections.org/farmtour. A free printed guide will also be available in mid-August.
Farms on the 2026 Farm Tour
“We are excited to be back on ASAP’s Farm Tour after a challenging two years of recovery,” shares Sara Martin of Two Trees Farm/Sustainabillies. “Farm Tour is one of our favorite ways to build relationships with our community and help people learn about small-scale, sustainable farms. It was a hard choice to pass on participating last year, but the farm wasn’t able to sustain a crowd. We are so proud of all of the work we have done to rebuild after Helene and cannot wait to share in ASAP’s celebration of local agriculture.”
Advance passes are on sale now for $35 at asapconnections.org/farmtour. One pass admits a carload of visitors to all farms both days. Pending availability, passes purchased the weekend of the tour will be $45. ASAP is also seeking volunteers to help staff the tour. In exchange for working one day of the tour, volunteers may attend for free on the other day. Sign up at asapconnections.org/farmtour.
Themed lists, which categorize farms based on specific interest, can help attendees tailor their Farm Tour experience. The Tasty Tour, sponsored by Red Fiddle Vittles, includes farms with food and beverages that you can sample during the tour. The “Show Me How It’s Done” Tour, sponsored by Wicked Weed Brewing, features farms with education and demonstrations on how to produce your own food or use specific techniques. The Foodtopia Tour, sponsored by Explore Asheville, includes farms that have developed relationships with restaurants in Buncombe County. The Kids Tour offers activities geared toward kids. WNC Magazine is the Farm Tour’s top media sponsor. Find a full list of sponsors at asapconnections.org/farmtour.
Additional funding was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service Farmers Market Promotion Program; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program; and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Southern Extension Risk Management Education Program.
Press Release