Sunburst Trout Farms
Sunburst Trout Farms started as Cashiers Valley Trout Farm in 1948 by Dick Jennings on his grandfather’s land. It was the first commercial trout farm in the south supplying trout to anglers and sportsmen. They pivoted to supplying trout to seafood markets in the 60s and by the 80s had changed their name to Sunburst Trout Company with the addition of his daughter and her husband to the company. In 2001, Dick Jennings was inducted into the WNC Agriculture Hall of Fame for his dedication and innovation to the industry. A third generation joined the family business and by 2011, they had become Sunburst Trout Farms which is still going strong. They have their own store in Waynesville, NC and have their farm at Lake Logan open to visitors for education and transparency.
Sunburst trout are grown in the Shining Rock wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest. They have double the water flow and volume from the stream than is normal, and they cultivate fewer fish per cycle to maintain a high standard. The trout take about 18-24 months to grow. This is slower than average but results in a milder, more delicate flavor. The trout are brought to their new processing center about three times a week, kept in recirculating tanks for a short time and then harvested and processed in about an hour for any orders at the farm.
Sunburst Farms is concerned with maintaining the quality of their environment and have several processes in place to maintain a good stewardship at their farm. They monitor and utilize holding ponds for their water, feed their fish low phosphorus formulated feed, and compost anything not used. If you’re looking for an ethically-sourced, low-impact fish with a good taste then Sunburst Trout should be your top-choice every time.