Top 10 Crops Grown by North Carolina Farmers

North Carolina's diverse climate—from coastal plain to mountains—supports a wide agricultural portfolio. The top crops by acreage and value include:

1. Corn – Feed, ethanol, food products
2. Soybeans – Oil, meal, export
3. Tobacco – Historic cash crop, still significant
4. Sweet Potatoes – NC is #1 U.S. producer
5. Peanuts – Virginia/Carolina type, high quality
6. Cucumbers – Fresh market and pickling
7. Tomatoes – Field and greenhouse
8. Watermelons – Summer staple, sandy soils
9. Cantaloupes – Eastern NC specialty
10. Apples – Mountain region (Henderson County)

Other notable: cotton, blueberries, strawberries, nursery/greenhouse crops, hogs/poultry (livestock leads cash receipts).