At the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, vendor booths remain packed with produce, flowers and plants. But behind the scenes, farmers say staying afloat through months of dry conditions has required constant irrigation and close monitoring of crops.
Whether it’s nurseries, flower vendors or produce stands, many growers say watering systems have become essential.
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Still, some products are beginning to show signs of stress.
One vendor, Ronnie Moore's Fruit & Veggies, told WRAL their sunflowers have looked noticeably different this season due to the lack of consistent rainfall and extreme drought.
“They look kinda droopy and kinda smaller...Those are drought sunflowers because they just haven’t had enough water like they would normally get," said Cheryl Moore.
WRAL Meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth says while North Carolina has seen slight improvements in drought conditions, the state remains far from recovery.
“The whole state of North Carolina is still in a drought. But we’re seeing some improvements.” Wilmoth said.
She explained the state still faces a major rainfall deficit.
“So we did some improvements but we’re still in a drought. We’ve got a long ways to go. We need about 11-14 inches in one month’s time to get us out of this big hole we’re in,” Wilmoth said.
Looking ahead, Wilmoth says forecast models do not show widespread soaking rain in the near future.
“The recent rain has been really helpful but looking it forward we don’t have a ton of really good rain chances so we might see things worsen a little but heading into next Thursday when the next drought monitor comes out,” she said.
Vendors at the State Farmers Market told WRAL crops like squash and tomatoes can struggle during prolonged dry periods, while others, including strawberries, may not show immediate visible changes.
WRAL reached out to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to learn how widespread the drought impacts are across the state and whether consumers could eventually see impacts at grocery stores or farmers markets.
The department was also asked which regions and crops are most vulnerable, whether farmers are already prioritizing certain crops for irrigation, and if emergency assistance measures are being considered if conditions continue.
We have not heard back.
Despite the ongoing challenges, many family farmers say they plan to continue adapting and pushing forward through the dry season.