Lyda Farms - Hendersonville NC Lyda Farms Operation & History NC Heritage Farm - 5th Generation Family Farm & Orchard
2008 Family Farm
of the Year
The NC State Grange named Lyda Farms the 2008 Family Farm of the Year. The Lyda family has been a member of the North Carolina State Grange for more than 50 years.
Current Farm Operations
The day-to-day operations of Lyda Farms are run by Mildred Lyda with the help of the three children, Jeff, Sonna, and Deb. Mildred, or "Millie," is the CEO and Jeff works behind the scenes to bring each crop to harvest. Deb is in charge of marketing and advertising. Sonna works part-time to help with fall sales at the market, as does Stacie, Mildred's great niece while she finishes her college degree.
From June through November, locally grown fruits and vegetables are available at our roadside farmers market located on the farm. Beginning in June you will find seasonable varieties of locally grown farm fresh fruits and vegetables. In the fall, beginning in mid August through November, you'll find 16 varieties of North Carolina Apples from our Orchard plus pumpkins, winter squash, indian corn, and other farm products available.
About The Lyda Family
Millie Lyda may be the family matriarch, but she is "Grandma" to most everyone who visits the farm. She coordinates all of the day-to-day activities at the farm. She keeps us all on track - which is her greatest daily challenge. Her quick wit keeps everyone entertained. Farming and merchandising are her passion, making every day on the farm a joy to her.
In 1994 Debra "Deb" Foster Lyda retired early from Bell South and returned to help run the farm. She used to run educational tours at the farm but now focuses on marketing. Many days you can find her at the Asheville Farmers Market selling excess fruits and vegetables. "Marketing and selling are aspects about the farm that Mom and I love the most. . . ," Deb says.
Stacie has worked on the farm since a very young age. She has developed a lot of customer service skills while working at our roadside fruit and vegetable market. We are excited she will marry in Fall 2009. Her fiancé, Todd, serves his country in the U.S. Air Force.
Jeff Lyda works behind the scenes, keeping all the farm equipment serviced and ready for action. They many acres of vegetables require his attention to get them irrigated, fertilized, plowed, and planted. He and his Mom, Mildred Lyda, form an awesome team to get everything planned and planted on time, each spring and summer.
Dr. Sonna Lyda, Superintendent of Transylvania County Schools since 2002, will retire in June 2009 after 37 years of service in the school system. During her career, she received the 2007-2008 Western Region Superintendent of the Year award and also was awarded the NCAE (NC Association of Educators) Central Office Administrator of the Year in 2004. Sonna was honored as the 2009 NC Excellence in Education Awards winner at the national AdvancED conference in Chicago in 2009. The award is presented to leaders in advancing educaiton. Sonna often spends her vacation days helping out at the farm, especially conducting education tours.
Apples have been Edneyville community's dominant source of income for 100 years...kept alive today by local farmers like Rome Lyda and the Lyda family.
The late Rome Lyda, or "Dada" as many called him, was featured in this October 2004 issue of Bold Life magazine in an article titled "Apple Town," about the community we know as Edneyville.
Lyda Family Farming
Roots Run Deep in NC
The Lyda Family have been farming in North Carolina since the 1700s. Members of our family found early on that apples flourished in the rich soil and the cool climate in the North Carolina mountains around Edneyville and Hendersonville.
William and Mary Jane Lyda started farming this land in the 1870s, followed by their son, Cebron, and his wife, Hester Byers Lyda. Their son, Rome Lyda, founded Lyda Farms in 1948 with his wife Mildred. Together, they operated the farm for 59 years until Rome went to be with his Lord in 2008.
Pioneer Farmer
& Apple Grower
Rome was a pioneer farmer in the community and played a major role in the development of the apple industry in Henderson County. He was an active member of and served on the Board of Directors for the Western North Carolina Apple Growers Cooperative and the Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association. In addition, he held active membership in the Edneyville Grange #1051, where he was honored for 50 years of membership.
Current Farm Operations
In 1994 Debra "Deb" Foster Lyda retired early from Bell South and returned to help run the farm. She used to run educational tours at the farm but now focuses on marketing. Many days you can find her at the Asheville Farmers Market selling excess fruits and vegetables. "Marketing and selling are aspects about the farm that Mom and I love the most. . . ," Deb says.
Stacie has worked on the farm since a very young age. She has developed a lot of customer service skills while working at our roadside fruit and vegetable market. We are excited she will marry in Fall 2009. Her fiancé, Todd, serves his country in the U.S. Air Force.
Jeff Lyda works behind the scenes, keeping all the farm equipment serviced and ready for action. They many acres of vegetables require his attention to get them irrigated, fertilized, plowed, and planted. He and his Mom, Mildred Lyda, form an awesome team to get everything planned and planted on time, each spring and summer.
