Source:  NCDA&CS, 8/25/09

Looking for a Halloween hayride, decorative Thanksgiving gourds and pumpkins or a Christmas tree fit for the White House? North Carolina agritourism farmers have you covered.

More than 200 agritourism farms and vineyards offering pumpkin patches, corn mazes, barnyard animal exhibits, hayrides, pick-your-own opportunities, school field trips and more are featured in a new map available at the nine state Welcome Centers, county extension offices, state farmers markets and other spots across the state.

"The fall season is a perfect time for families to pick up homegrown holiday decorations and take home memories from North Carolina farms,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our state’s agritourism farms provide farmers with added income and support a culture and way of life that most folks only see on television shows and movies.”

Agritourism refers to value-added agricultural activities on a farm or vineyard that provide entertaining and recreational experiences. The free map, titled “Discover North Carolina Farms: 2009 Guide and Map to North Carolina Agritourism Farms,” includes contact information, seasonal specifications and directions from major N.C. cities for each farm.

Published by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the guide classifies farms into eight categories: Hayrides/Mazes, Barnyard Animals, Groups/Tours/Food, Choose 'n’ Cut/Pick-Your-Own, Lodging/Camping, Walking/Riding Trails, Slow Dining/Picnics and Handicap Accessible. These maps were made possible by a grant from the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and support from the NCDA&CS Marketing Division and Agritourism Networking Association.

Individuals, businesses and organizations can still order maps by calling Martha Glass, manager of the NCDA&CS Agritourism Office, at (919) 733-7887, ext. 276, or by e-mail at martha.glass@ncagr.gov. Maps are available individually, in packages of 25 and in boxes of 300.

In addition to these maps, a searchable directory of farms is available online at www.visitncfarms.com, which lists farms by both county and category.