HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. —

Nearly 11 months after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville is reopening, thanks to community support and grants from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

Andrew, a loyal customer, expressed his concerns from last year, saying, "Last year we were super worried about it because we were supposed to come out and we ended up we did end up coming out. It was really worrisome because I thought that this year we wouldn't be able to do exactly what we weren't going to be able to do."

Andrew also shared his family's tradition, stating, "My family took me to do it. Now we just keep doing it."

Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard credits its survival to the support from loyal customers like Andrew and other local f

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