Discovering NC Agriculture is a year-long series focusing on twelve N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
Apples are a favorite tradition for many N.C. families in the fall! For over four generations, the Nix family has been producing high-quality apples in the mountains of our state. Although they have faced many challenges through the years, including storm damage and financial struggles, Flavor Full Farms in Hendersonville is stronger today than it has ever been.
Jeff Nix, owner and operator of Flavor Full Farms, started farming alongside his father at 8-years-old. “I am the third generation to work on the farm, and my son, Jerrod, is the fourth generation,” he said. “Growing up, I was a constant shadow learning at the hands of my father. From driving tractors to growing apples, I’ve loved every aspect of farming from the very beginning.” In 2020, the Nix family expanded their operation to include a packing facility on-site at the farm and added slicing equipment two years later. Today, the farm encompasses 82 acres of apple trees, which produce nearly 60,000 bushels each year! “We have come a long way through the years, and I am proud of the hard work and family legacy that exists on the farm today,” Jeff said.
Each year, the Nix family produces a variety of apples for customers to enjoy, including Gala, Fuji, Jazz, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious. “Once an apple tree is planted, it takes anywhere from four to five years before that tree will start producing fruit,” Jeff said. By working with apple trees that take longer to mature and produce fruit, Jeff and his family ensure the highest quality of apples possible for their customers. “These trees produce fruit that is not only flavorful, but abundant,” Jeff said. “We are able to utilize 95% or more of our crop each year because the quality is so strong.” Apple harvest takes place each year from August through November. “One thing many of our customers don’t understand is that our apples are washed, brushed and sanitized before they are sent to the packing house,” Jeff said. “This ensures that any residue from pesticides or herbicides used during the growing process is completely removed.” According to Jeff and his family, this is a common practice for farmers across the state to ensure customers receive products that are both safe and healthy.
After the apples have been harvested, they are brought into the packing house for grading, sorting, packing and/or slicing. “Apples are graded and sorted according to their size and quality,” Jeff said. “A lot of our apples are sliced and used for the NC Farm to School program, but we also do sell whole apples both to distributors and on-site at the farm.” Once the apples have been sorted, they are then placed into bins and set in storage until they are needed for an order. “Our coolers are set between 30- and 35-degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the quality remains while our apples are in storage,” Jeff said. As mentioned above, Flavor Full Farms is heavily involved in our NC Farm to School program, where they provide sliced apples to schools across the state. They also provide apple slices to other distributors, which then take them to retailers such as Food Lion and Publix.
“We want our apple slices to be super fresh, so we don’t take them out of the cooler until it’s time to package and ship a specific order,” Jeff said. Once the bins are removed from the cooler, the apples are dumped into a big vat of water and sent through their slicing system, which cuts each apple into 16 small slices. “Once the apples have been sliced, we dump them into an acetic acid for about forty-five seconds,” Jeff said. “This solution keeps the apples from turning brown.” Finally, the apples are bagged and weighed before being placed in a 100-count box for shipping. “The apple slicing business has really helped boost our company’s success,” Jeff said. “We are currently working to become even more involved with this side of the business, because I believe it is important for people, especially kids, to enjoy fresh products straight from the farm.” Apples from Flavor Full Farm can also be purchased on-site at their Hendersonville location.
Although it hasn’t been easy, Jeff and his family take immense pride in their farm, products and story. “Our family has gone through many ups and downs in the farming business, including near bankruptcy, hurricane damage, and hail damage,” Jeff said. In fact, Flavor Full Farms lost 7.5 acres of apple trees during Hurricane Helene, which was a significant portion of their crop. Through grants and disaster assistance money they were able, this year, to fix the ground and plant trees back in that location. “We are very happy with how well the trees are growing again,” Jeff said. “Having that money was a blessing to be able to restore our farm, and we are thankful to be back in full-scale production.” The Nix family’s resilience and faith have carried them through every trial and storm, allowing them to continue growing apples for customers across the state and beyond.
From apple slices and chips to cider and pie, apples are a major player in our state’s agriculture industry and culinary scene. “I believe apples are important for agriculture for three reasons: (1) The longevity of them, because they can be used year-round, (2) The nutrition found in them, and (3) Their versatility in use,” Jeff said. “Plus, I like them!” Although he loves all varieties of apples, Jeff’s favorites are the Gala, Jazz, and Fuji. We are so thankful for all that Jeff and his family continue to do for the apple industry in our state. Be sure to visit Flavor Full Farm this fall and enjoy farm fresh apples!
