Asheville Hosts Farm to Fork Fondo in 2019

Hundreds of Cyclists to Celebrate the Region’s Farms, Food and Landscapes in June

The award-winning bicycle event series Farm to Fork Fondo will include a stop in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains’ in 2019. 500 cyclists from throughout the country are expected to attend Farm to Fork Fondo – Asheville on June 29 & 30, 2019 at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview. The annual event will be organized by Wrenegade Sports of Burlington, Vermont.

"Asheville is a perfect addition to our Farm to Fork Fondo series," said Wrenegade Sports Founder and Event Director Tyler Wren. "This iconic farmland region will allow us to showcase a diverse mix of farms, unique farm-to-table fare, and tight-knit rural communities. Our mission is to motivate the cycling community across the country to support their local farms, and Asheville gives us an ideal platform to broadcast that message."

The event will include gourmet aid stations at several farms in the Blue Ridge Mountain region, where cyclists will sample chef-prepared food made from each farm’s ingredients. Course options for all abilities will range from ten to 100 miles.

Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview will serve as the event venue on June 30, and will also host a pre-ride ‘Meet the Farmers Dinner’ on June 29. “Hickory Nut Gap Farm is a serene 90 acres nestled in Fairview, NC. This land has been in the family for five generations. Jamie and Amy Ager have been raising beef cattle, pigs, poultry, and apples at Hickory Nut Gap since 2000. Hickory Nut Gap Farm is more than a collection of pastures. It’s a gathering place for neighbors, visitors, and families to get a firsthand view of a local food system and the animals we raise while enjoying each other’s company.” says Megan Auten, Event Manager of Hickory Nut Gap Farm. “We are delighted to partner with Wrenegade Sports to introduce their participants to our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain region with Farm to Fork Fondo.”

Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau is supporting Wrenegade Sports’ efforts to bring the Farm to Fork Fondo series to North Carolina. “Asheville, as a top destination for agritourism visitors, is a natural fit for the Farm to Fork Fondo series with its abundance of farms, scenic beauty, and many rural roads ideal for cycling,” said Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau Senior Sales Manager Tina Porter.

Local partners include Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Explore Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, Country Inn & Suites Westgate, Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville, and Haywood Park Hotel & Atrium. Local farms include Cloud 9 Farm, Turgua Brewing, Flying Cloud Farm, Round Mountain Creamery, and Ten Mile Farm. Additional local farm and food partners will be announced in coming months.

Online registration is now open at FarmToForkFondo.com