Asheville’s reputation as a craft beer destination is translating into serious economic muscle. A new report from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority reveals that brewery-related tourism generated $180 million in direct economic impact in 2025, a 23 percent increase from the previous year and a figure that has caught the attention of economic development officials across the Southeast.

The report found that approximately 1.2 million visitors cited craft breweries as a primary reason for visiting the Asheville area last year, up from 900,000 in 2023. These visitors spent an average of $148 per day on lodging, food, transportation, and retail in addition to their brewery purchases.

“Beer tourism has become the anchor of our visitor economy in a way that nobody predicted a decade ago,” said Tourism Authority director James McConnell. “It’s not just about the beer — it’s the entire ecosystem of restaurants, hotels, shops, and experiences that has grown up around it.”

Asheville is now home to more than 55 breweries within the metropolitan area, giving it one of the highest per-capita brewery counts of any city in the United States. The “South Slope” brewery district has become particularly iconic, with several blocks of converted industrial buildings housing taprooms that draw crowds on any given afternoon.

The industry has also proven to be a significant job creator, employing more than 2,800 people directly in brewing operations and taprooms, with an estimated 5,000 additional jobs in supporting industries. Several Asheville breweries have begun exporting to international markets, adding another dimension to the economic story. City planners are now working to manage growth sustainably, with new zoning proposals aimed at preserving the character of brewery districts while accommodating expansion.

The Port of Wilmington has recorded its busiest quarter in history, handling 3.2 million tons of cargo in the first three months of 2026 — a 15 percent increase over the same period last year that positions North Carolina’s primary deepwater port as an increasingly vital player in East Coast trade.

The surge has been driven by a combination of factors, including new shipping routes from Southeast Asia, the expansion of cold storage facilities that have attracted pharmaceutical and agricultural importers, and the ongoing diversification of supply chains away from overconcentrated West Coast ports.

“Companies are rethinking their logistics networks, and Wilmington keeps coming up as the answer,” said port director Brian Clark. “Our location, our rail connections, and our capacity for growth give us advantages that are hard to match on the Eastern Seaboard.”

A $200 million modernization project completed last year added two new container cranes, deepened the main shipping channel to 44 feet, and expanded the port’s refrigerated container capacity by 40 percent. Those investments are now paying dividends as shipping lines that previously bypassed Wilmington in favor of Charleston or Savannah add regular service to the North Carolina port.

The port’s growth is rippling through the regional economy. Warehouse and logistics companies along the I-40 corridor between Wilmington and Raleigh are expanding rapidly, and the port now supports an estimated 18,000 direct and indirect jobs in southeastern North Carolina. State officials say the port’s trajectory reinforces the case for continued infrastructure investment along the coast.

North Carolina’s network of farmers markets generated record revenue of $92 million in 2025, according to data released by the NC Department of Agriculture, reflecting a sustained consumer shift toward locally sourced food that shows no signs of slowing down.

The figure represents a 17 percent increase over 2024 and marks the fifth consecutive year of growth for the state’s 240-plus registered farmers markets. The largest gains came from markets in the Triangle and Triad regions, though rural markets in eastern North Carolina also saw significant increases as more small-scale farmers entered the direct-to-consumer channel.

“Consumers are voting with their dollars, and they’re saying they want to know where their food comes from and who grew it,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our farmers markets aren’t just places to shop — they’re community gathering spaces that connect people to the land.”

The growth has been fueled by several trends, including expanded acceptance of SNAP benefits at farmers markets, the proliferation of farm-to-table restaurants that source directly from market vendors, and a growing interest in heritage and heirloom produce varieties that aren’t available in conventional grocery stores.

The boom has also created meaningful economic opportunities for a new generation of farmers. Market organizers report that the average age of new vendors has dropped to 34, down from 52 a decade ago, as young entrepreneurs are drawn to sustainable agriculture and direct sales models. Several NC universities have responded by expanding their agricultural entrepreneurship programs, and the state recently launched a grant program providing up to $25,000 in startup capital for first-generation farmers seeking to sell at farmers markets.