Communities in western North Carolina are grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, impacting local growers and their agricultural output. Despite the challenges posed by the storm, farmers are adapting to ensure the continuity of their operations and supply of produce to the region.
Barr Evergreens, a longstanding agricultural business on Covil Ave in Wilmington, has been selling crops from their farm near West Jefferson for generations. Currently offering pumpkins and squash harvested prior to Hurricane Helene, they are gearing up for the upcoming sale of live Christmas trees. Employee Bill Beckman shared that while the farm did experience some damage, their seasonal timeline remains on track.
“Several larger trees fell within our tree fields, and some of the access roads were affected by erosion. However, the overall impact was minimal,” remarked Beckman. With the necessary equipment and resources at their disposal, repairs are already underway to restore the affected areas before the tree harvest commences.
Although the farm’s location in Ashe County was spared from significant damage, Beckman acknowledged that neighboring farms to the south may have faced more severe consequences from the storm. Looking ahead, Barr Evergreens is poised to begin tree sales on November 22, ensuring a steady transition into the holiday season.
