Locally Grown Food a Booming Cottage Industry in Western N.C.

The Asheville Citizen-Times says locally grown food in the N.C. Mountains is already grossing $14.5 million a year for small farmers in 23 western counties. That figure could grow to a whopping $451.9 million if all the production / marketing / weather stars align just right.

Any Saturday visit to Boone's Farmer's Market can tell you that locally grown food is a hot item. The variety and abundance of good produce is invigorating in itself, and many -- if not most -- vendors sell out of their edibles by noon.