Somewhere along a winding mountain road in Haywood County, there is a small country store that people plan whole weekends around. Shoppers leave with canning tomatoes by the box, dried beans by the bag, and a bakery haul they swear they will share.
No card is checked at the door, and nobody asks for a yearly fee. The shelves mix farm-raised meats, fresh eggs, local produce, Amish soaps, jams, pickles, and plenty of surprises that you might only find if you ask.
Folks who live nearby call it their grocery store, and travelers passing through the mountains often stop more than once. Keep reading to learn where this family farm store sits, what fills its shelves, when to go, and why so many North Carolinians count it as a regular stop.
A Farm Store on Crabtree Road
Out where the mountains of western North Carolina fold into farmland, a modest store has built a loyal following one shopping bag at a time.
Presnell’s Produce & More sits at 6209 Crabtree Rd, Clyde, NC 28721, in Haywood County. The store is a family farm market, and that farm connection shapes almost everything on its shelves.
Clyde is a small town, and the store fits right in. It is officially listed as a grocery store, yet it feels closer to an old-fashioned country market that grew up and kept its manners.
Shoppers find produce, farm meats, eggs, baked goods, and a long list of pantry items. Some locals say it sits closer to their homes than any regular grocery store, which makes it a practical weekly stop rather than a once-a-year treat.
The drive is part of the appeal too. Crabtree Road winds through scenic country, and more than a few people mention that the trip out is worth the time on its own.
So the setting is simple, rural, and very North Carolina. What happens inside the doors is where things get interesting.
The Family Behind the Counter
Every good country store has a story, and this one starts with a farm.
Presnell’s describes itself as a family farm store, and the meats, eggs, and many vegetables come from their very own farm. That detail matters to shoppers who want to know where their food started out.
Some families say they began shopping here after growing tired of news about food recalls. They wanted local options, and the reassurance of farm-raised meat and eggs gave them one less thing to worry about.
The people running the place earn regular praise. Staff are described as friendly, helpful, and welcoming, and the word friendly comes up again and again among regulars.
Responses from the store to customer feedback are warm and personal. When someone was unhappy with a special-order cake, the store asked for details by email and offered to make it right.
The owners also make a point of saying that everybody is welcome. That spirit of being neighborly sits at the heart of how they want the store to run.
A farm, a family, and a counter full of folks who know their customers by name. Not a bad foundation for a shop.
Bins, Bushels, and Canning Tomatoes
Fresh produce is the headliner here, and it shows up in the store’s very name.
Local and in-season fruits and vegetables fill the bins. Shoppers often say the quality beats what they sort through at big chain grocery stores, and prices on fruit and vegetables are called great.
Summer brings blackberries, strawberries, watermelons, and tomatoes. Some households buy strawberries regularly to make their own jam at home.
Home canners get special attention. The store has stocked plenty of canning tomatoes alongside heirloom varieties, which makes it easy to stock up for a weekend of putting food by.
Fall is another favorite season. Leaf-season travelers like to pair a mountain drive with a stop for local produce, and many are pleased by just how much local product is available.
The store is also known to be open year-round, so the shelves shift with the calendar instead of shutting down when summer ends.
Bulk shoppers will appreciate that this is the kind of place where a box of tomatoes feels like a reasonable purchase. Your pantry may end up fuller than planned, and that is half the fun.
Meat and Eggs Straight From the Farm
Plenty of produce stands stop at vegetables. Presnell’s keeps going straight to the freezer case.
Farm-raised meats are a big draw, with beef, chicken, and sausage among the selections. The sausage gets singled out by regulars, and the ground beef has won over first-time shoppers too.
Frozen meat here is described as fresher and often less expensive than what you can find in many stores. Some families say they now buy breakfast, lunch, and dinner straight from this one shop.
A private chef in the area uses a lot of the store’s products for clients. That is a solid sign the meat counter holds its own.
Fresh farm eggs round things out. They are a regular favorite and one of the reasons some people make weekly trips.
Haywood County locals have called it the best place in the county to buy meat, vegetables, and eggs. That is a bold claim in mountain farm country, but plenty of shoppers seem to agree.
Bring a cooler if your drive is long. Stocking the freezer is a common goal here, and the selection makes it tempting to grab more than one week’s worth.
Amish Soaps and Country Shelves
Here is where the Costco comparison really earns its keep, minus the warehouse and the membership fee.
Amish soaps and other Amish items sit on the shelves alongside rows of jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, salsa, and honey. The selection of jarred goods is a highlight for many shoppers.
Bulk-style pantry staples are a strength too. There is a large variety of dried beans and dried peppers, which is great news for anyone who likes to cook a big pot on a cold mountain evening.
Shoppers also find butter, cheeses, spices, soup prep mixes, and baking mixes such as pancake mix. Canning supplies are available, so you can buy the tomatoes and the tools in one trip.
Candy shows up as well, along with what regulars call fun country food items. It is the kind of mix that makes browsing take longer than expected.
One piece of advice comes up often. If you do not see something, ask, because the staff may know exactly where it is hiding.
Many people describe the store as a true one-stop shop. For a small building, it packs a surprising amount onto every shelf.
A Bakery That Does Its Own Baking
Plenty of shoppers come for groceries and leave with a box of baked goods they did not plan to buy.
The store has its own bakery, and everything is baked on site. Pies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, muffins, garlic knots, and hand pies all make appearances in the case.
Hand pies styled like the snack cakes many grew up with, but made with real fruit, have a devoted following. Cherry pie, peanut butter pie, coconut cake, and carrot cake muffins also get mentioned by fans.
Cinnamon rolls and garlic knots are a favorite pair, and even the store agrees they are something special.
Need something for a party or holiday? The bakery takes advance orders for particular items, which is handy when you want a whole cake rather than a slice.
Not every special order lands perfectly for everyone. When one customer was disappointed, the store reached out to fix the problem, which says a lot about how they handle things.
Bakery fans should arrive with a plan, or at least some self-control. The case has a way of rearranging grocery lists on the spot.
Coffee Ground While You Wait
Coffee lovers might not expect a produce stand to be their next bean source. That is exactly what happens here.
The store carries whole bean coffee in a wide range of flavors. Some of it is locally roasted, which suits the store’s focus on local products.
An in-house grinder means you can buy whole beans and have them ground right there. Pre-ground options are available too, so the morning routine stays simple either way.
Regulars count the coffee among their consistent favorites, right next to farm eggs, sausage, and baked goods. That combination makes a very complete breakfast run.
Bulk buyers will like the flexibility. Grabbing a few bags in different flavors is an easy way to keep the kitchen stocked for weeks.
It is also a nice gift option for friends back home. A bag of locally roasted coffee from a mountain farm store makes a thoughtful souvenir from western North Carolina.
Add a cinnamon roll from the bakery case and the coffee table is set. Few grocery runs end with a breakfast this well planned.
Greenhouse Plants, Flowers, and Earrings
Groceries are only part of the treasure hunt at this Clyde market.
A greenhouse is part of the operation, and shoppers often mention enjoying a walk through it. Plants are frequently available, and flowers have impressed travelers passing through town.
Inside, the shelves stretch beyond food. Locally made jewelry shows up, including earrings, and some shoppers happily add a pair to the bag next to their tomatoes.
Soaps and other miscellaneous items appear from time to time. The selection may change, so each trip can turn up something new.
The store has also recently expanded. Even so, shoppers still describe a delightfully surprising array of items packed into a small space.
Gardeners may find starter plants for the season, while gift shoppers may leave with a handmade find. It is a nice way to support local makers and the farm at the same time.
Browse slowly here. Some of the best finds are tucked between the jars and the flower pots, waiting for someone curious enough to look.
Burgers, Ice Cream, and a Food Truck
Shopping builds an appetite, and the store has an answer for that too.
A food truck has served burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches on site. That makes it easy to turn a grocery stop into a lunch break on a mountain drive.
Inside, pre-made foods and snacks offer more options. Chicken salad has been a favorite for travelers who stopped by more than once during their stay.
Ice cream has also been available on some visits, which is a welcome surprise on a warm afternoon.
Offerings may vary by day and season, so it is smart not to count on one specific item. The fun is in seeing what is available when you arrive.
Families on day trips may find this especially handy. Kids can grab a snack while adults load up on produce and pantry goods.
Out-of-town travelers have admitted stopping every single day of their trip. Some even say they wish they had a place like this back home, which is about as high a compliment as a country store can get.
Hours, Directions, and Smart Timing
Planning ahead is easy, because the schedule is refreshingly simple.
Presnell’s is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. The store is closed on Sunday, so weekend shoppers should aim for Saturday.
The market is described as open year-round. That means you can stop in for summer berries, fall produce, or winter pantry staples.
Getting there involves a pleasant drive out Crabtree Road in Haywood County. Many people call the drive beautiful, and fall color season makes it even more popular.
Since the meats are often frozen, a cooler in the trunk is a smart idea for longer drives home. A few reusable bags help when the bakery case wins you over.
Quality and price are both praised, with produce and meats called a good value. Specific prices are not posted here, so plan to see for yourself.
Special bakery orders should be arranged in advance. The store’s website is a good place to check before you go.
A little planning goes a long way. Arrive with a list, then leave room for the surprises.
Why the Locals Keep Coming Back
Some stores are errands. Others become habits, and this one clearly falls into the second group.
With a 4.9-star standing across more than 160 opinions, Presnell’s has earned a strong reputation in Haywood County. The appeal comes from simple things done well.
Fresh produce, farm meats, eggs, homemade baked goods, and a pantry full of Amish and country items all live under one roof. There is no membership card, no warehouse maze, and no long walk across a giant parking lot.
It suits home cooks, canners, bakery fans, and anyone who likes to stock up. Travelers love it too, and friends visiting the area often ask to stop in.
The friendly staff ties it all together. A warm greeting and help finding things make the small space feel easy to shop.
For North Carolinians looking for a nearby outing with real purpose, this one checks the boxes. A pretty drive, a full cooler, and a box of pastries is a fine way to spend a Saturday.
Clyde may be small, but its farm store has a big fan club, and there is always room for one more.
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