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Examining a regional agricultural institution by the numbers
North Carolina is the seventh highest apple-producing U.S. state. Henderson County grows 65% of those lovelies. So it's fruitful to conclude that the all-American treat is both the cash and cultural crop of this region of WNC. Held every long Labor Day weekend, the North Carolina Apple Festival (this year Sept. 2-5) celebrates an impressive anniversary in 2011: 65. There's that number again
Here are some more: apple income on a normal growing year is around $22 million. Around two-hundred orchard owners thrive in the county. And the Pink Lady variety made a lovely debut at several vendors' booths last year.
Okay, so that last fact wasn't exactly a statistic. But it does point to the continued vibrancy of a centuries-old American agricultural institution -- one that grew as the country did. The Apple Festival is a typical street fair, offering live entertainment, a kids' arena, crafts, and vendors. But those who appreciate the core of the matter shouldn't miss the Apple Recipe Contest or the Apple Orchard Tour. See the website for details.
