Pine Knot Farms

Over 110 years old, Pine Knot Farms was purchased by Stanley Hughes' grandfather in 1912. Stanley Hughes, a third-generation African-American farmer, is known for being one of the first in North Carolina to grow certified organic tobacco. The farm has received numerous accolades, including the 2013 Farmer of the Year Award from the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and the 2022 Rural Entrepreneurs of the Year Award from the NC Rural Center.

The farm employs a variety of sustainable practices including beneficial insect habitats, conservation easements, and cover crops for soil building. They use organic fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides for their crops. Livestock is grass-fed and grain-based, managed through intensive rotation and pasture-based systems.

Pine Knot Farms sells their produce through a seasonal CSA and at local farmers' markets. Their collard greens were featured in Gourmet Magazine as some of the best in the country. The farm also supports youth programs aimed at preparing the next generation of farmers.