2024 Central-East North Carolina Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Central-East North Carolina in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for corn that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have corn orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

Pitt County

• Brileys Strawberries & Produce - Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Crop Maze, Picnic Facilities, Hay Rides, Animals, Pumpkin
  2312 Ram Horn Road, Greenville, NC 27834. Phone: (252) 413-6155. Open: April 20-Nov 15; Call for hours. Directions: Located Hwy 264 East, 3 miles from Greenville Marine, 10 miles from Washington, NC. Produce Stand located on corner of 14th Street & Greenville Blvd. across from Trade Mart #1.Corn Maze, Hayrides, Picnic facilities & Petting Barn. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Brileys Strawberries & Produce Facebook page. . Phone: (252) 757-3969. Briley's Farm Market is a third generation family owned farm in Pitt County. We specialize in fresh produce and vegetables. With over 90 acres, we have something for everyone! In the fall, we open our farm for pumpkin season. There are games, hay rides, and animals to visit.
• Renston Garden Market - apples, beets, blueberries, corn (sweet), cucumbers, grapes, muscadine grapes, melons, pears, peaches, pecans , peppers, summer squash, tomatoes,
  4024 Highway 903 South, Winterville, NC 28590. Phone: 252 756 3343. Email: andyrenston@hotmail.com. Open: Monday through Saturday during pick your own seasons from 8 until noon. Directions: we are exactly 3.5 miles south of Winterville on highway 903. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers.
  Renston Garden Market Facebook page. . our primary crops are: pick your own blueberries from the last week in May until the middle of July; peaches, apples, bunch grapes, and muscadine grapes which begin in June and run through September; We have a Christmas sell for handmade pottery and sell selected shrubbery in fall, winter, and spring.
• Strawberries on 903 - Strawberries, Asparagus, Cabbage, Corn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Onions, Cucumber
  3709 NC 903 S, Winterville, NC 28590. Phone: (252) 321-3204. Email: info@strawberrieson903.com. Open: Sunday 1 am to 6 pm; Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 6 pm; April thru July 1. Directions: Located 4 miles south of Winterville, on Hwy 903 South. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: 252-714-3848. Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage, Irish Potatoes, Onions - April-June Garden Peas - May Asparagus - April-May Cucumbers - May-June Sweet Corn - June-July Pumpkins - September-November. Farm tours for school groups and picnic area. We offer a wide variety of fresh produce at our roadside stand on NC 903. We also have a booth at the Pitt County Farmer's Market on Saturdays from 7am to 1pm. Selection varies at both locations and is dependent upon weather and current season. Please call ahead to inquire about current availability;

Wayne County

• Elroy Farms - Beans, Christmas Tree Live, Corn, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Vegetables
  170 Woodpeck Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534. Phone: (919) 778-2381. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 6 pm; April thru December. Directions: Located on Hwy 70 east of Goldsboro, one half mile east of Hwy 111 & Hwy 70 intersection, farm market located on right side of 70 East. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (919) 778-6303 Crop availability: Strawberries - April-June Tomatoes - June-September Beans & Melons - June-October Pumpkins - September-November Corn - June-August Mixed Vegetables - April-November Christmas Trees - November- December.
• Jack D. Smith - Cabbage, Corn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Strawberries
  686 Riverbend Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Phone: (919) 731-7269. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm; April-October. Directions: Located on NC 581 South - 200 yards south of US 70 and NC 581 intersection. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage & Potatoes - May Sweet Corn - June-July Pumpkins - September-October.

Wilson County

• Deans Farm Market - strawberries, Precut Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths and boughs, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, restrooms, tractor-pulled hay rides
  4231 NC Hwy 42 West, Wilson, NC 27893. Phone: 252-237-0967. Email: deansfarmmarket@yahoo.com. Open: Current Hours Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm Hours change according to season. Directions: From Hwy 95 exit 116 \(Hwy 42 exit\) go east \(towards Wilson\) about 5 miles, Deans Farm is on the right. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. . Fax: 252-237-9466. . From Hwy 95 exit 116 (Hwy 42 exit) go east (towards Wilson) about 5 miles, Deans Farm is on the right. Crops are usually available in April, May, October. Strawberries are typically available the last part of April through first of June Pumpkin patch is available during the month of October with the hayride. Christmas trees are available during December. Hayrides with a cotton maze the month of October. We do school/ daycares/ church field trips in May and October. We also carry fresh jams,jellies, and pure honey. (UPDATED: May 29, 2015, JBS)

 

 

Choosing and Picking Corn

Corn reaches it's peak sweetness and flavor when the kernels are full, and just touching each other, like a good set of teeth!  They should not be bloated and smushed so tightly that there is no space left at all. The bloated overripe ears will have a bland, starchy taste.

Here's what to look for:

• The tips of the silks coming out of the ear should be a light brown.
•  If you break a kernel with your fingernail, the liquid should be slightly milky in color.
•  The ears should be filled out and have developed good girth but not bloated.

Harvesting

 To harvest, snap off the ears by hand with a quick, firm, downward push; then twist and pull.
 Avoid twisting or yanking the ears, as this can damage the stalk or the ear itself.

Storing the corn

Corn is at its prime eating quality on the stalk for only 72 hours before becoming over mature. The most important factor is cooling it as soon as possible after harvesting it.  Get it into the fridge or cover it with ice! Many farmers say you should remove the shucks right away, too.  I've found that removing most of the shuck, but leaving a few leaves to cover each ear is best to prevent the kernels from drying out.  See this page for more about storing corn before using it.

Cooking:

The worst mistake people make is overcooking corn.  In fact, corn isn't really cooked; it's just heated up. If you cook it form more than a few minutes (3 minutes), then you are simply breaking down the sugars and turning a nice, crisp sweet ear into bland mush. It's not a pot roast; the purpose of heating it is NOT to break down the cells, just to heat them to bring out the flavor and melt the butter!

Here's how to cook the corn:

1. Fill a large pot (large enough so the shucked ears can fit inside, laying down) about 2/3 full of water and start bring it to a boil
2. Shuck the ears, and snap off the stalk end and the very tip of ear (especially if you will use "corn stickers" , (handles) to hold the ears.
3. When everyone is sitting down at the table and you are serving the rest of the meal, put the corn in the boiling water and set the time for 3 minutes.
4. After 3 minutes, using tongs, retrieve the ears and serve them with butter (Corn boats are wonderful for corn!

 

Freezing Corn

You can easily freeze the sweet corn and have that great taste in the dead of winter! 

• Freezing whole ears of corn on the cob
• Freezing corn, cut off the cob

Canning Corn

This too, is easy... but it DOES require a Pressure Canner.  You cannot safely do this with a water bath canner.  Food poisoning is no joke!

• Here is how to can corn!
•  how to make canned creamed corn.
• Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli)
• Pickled corn relish

Other corn recipes

• How to make sweet corn ice cream
• Corn bread, or sweet corn muffins (like Chi Chi's)

• Corn fritters (a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers