Located in Willow Springs, Porter Farms & Nursery has been a favorite destination for fresh strawberries since becoming Wake County’s first Certified Roadside Farm Market in 2005. But as the farm has grown in popularity, so has development pressure. Owner Ashley Porter says he receives multiple offers to sell his land nearly every day.
Porter isn’t alone. For the farmers who still work Wake County’s fields, those phone calls have become routine. According to a new Wake County survey, 89% of local landowners said they have recently been contacted about selling their land for development, even though 75% said they have no plans to sell within the next five years.
“The findings come from two companion surveys the County launched in summer 2025 to explore the future of local agriculture: one for landowners and farmers and one for the general public,” said Donald Mial, chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “Overall, we collected responses from over 1000 people. The surveys were designed to better understand landowners’ priorities, future plans for their properties and farmland preservation.”…