Growing Fruit Trees in North Carolina

Who doesn’t love a crisp apple, juicy peach or a perfect pear? These and other popular fruit trees, like fig or persimmon, are staples of summer. They also provide an important boost to the North Carolina economy, all thanks to small and family farms.

Apples alone generate tens of millions of dollars. North Carolina produces 98 million pounds of apples each year, good for No. 8 in the country. It’s not quite the same as growing money on trees, but it’s pretty close.

But what all goes into growing these trees? Watch as Mike Parker, horticulture science associate professor and NC State Extension tree fruit specialist, shares more about the challenges our growers overcome to make sure store shelves, market stalls and a plethora of products have plentiful fresh fruit.

More Resources

• Check out the Tree Fruit and Nuts chapter of the North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook, which explains how to select, plant and maintain orchard trees at home.
• If you’re looking for quick and simple guidance for planting fruit trees at home, this Growing Fruit Trees post from Extension Gardener is a great place to start.
• Find a list of Comprehensive Resources for Fruit Trees from NC State Extension, including guidance on growing and pruning.
• You can contact your N.C. Cooperative Extension center – there’s one in every county of North Carolina – for local expertise and support on a variety of lawn, gardening and agricultural topics!