2024 Eastern Coastal North Carolina Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Eastern Coastal 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.

Beaufort County

• Garden Spot - Beans, Cabbage, Collards, Corn, Flowers, Greens, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes
  7201 Free Union Road, Pinetown, NC 27865. Phone: (252) 943-6853. Open: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 7 pm, April 15- December 24. Directions: Located 20 miles east of Washington on 264 E turn left on Free Union Church Road, take left on State Road 1609 one half mile past Northside School. Look for signs. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (252) 943-6211 Crop availability: Irish Potatoes - April-May Red Potatoes - May Peas - May-June Sweet Corn - June-July Sweet Potatoes - September to December . Farm Market Garden Center Florist & Produce.
• Watson's Strawberry & Veg. Farm - Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Greens, Squash, Tomatoes, Potatoes
  Route 1, Box 612, Belhaven, NC 27810. Phone: 252-943-2812. Open: Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, mid April-Oct. Directions: Located just off Hwy 264, 5 miles east of Belhaven, NC. on Beech Ridge Road. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: May Peas - May Sweet Corn, Tomatoes - June-July Cabbage - May-June Squash - May Field Peas - September Beans - September-October Red Potatoes - May-October.

Carteret County

• Bonnie's Berries - Strawberries, Watermelon, Corn, Peanuts
  627 Wetherington Landing Road, Stella, NC 28582. Phone: (252) 393-6350. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 6:30 pm; Mid April thru September. Directions: From Cape Carteret area, go 6 miles north of Emerald Island Bridge on Hwy 58 past railroad tracks, turn left on Morristown Road. Go to stop sign, turn right on Wetherington Landing Road, second house on right. From Maysville, go south on Hwy 58 about 10 miles, turn right on Morristown Road, go to stop sign, turn right on Wetherington Landing Road, second house on right and watch for signs. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Strawberries - mid April-May Watermelons & Sweet Corn - June-July Green Peanuts - September. Call for orders and availability. .
• Clayton and Terry Garner - Beans, Cantaloupe, Corn, Strawberries, Watermelon
  173 Sam Garner Road, Newport, NC 28570. Phone: 252-223-5283. Open: Sunday to Saturday 7 am to 6:30 pm, mid April-August 1. Directions: Located on Hwy 70 east of Newport on Sam Garner Road 3 one half miles east of Newport and 8 miles west of Morehead City. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Strawberries - mid April-May Peas - May-July Sweet Corn, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, String Beans - June-July Butterbeans - July.

Jones County

• Parker Farms - Corn, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes
  114 Goshen Road, Pollocksville, NC 28573. Phone: (252) 224-0010. Open: Monday to Saturday; April thru November 15 Varies according to season. Directions: From New Bern Hwy 17 turn right on Pollock Street beside Trent Motel go 14 mile on right. \(April-July\) Produce Stand located in New Bern behind Moore\'s Barbeque on Trent Road. \(May-Novemeber\) Also located at Brice\'s Creek beside Merchants Store. \(June-July\). . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (252) 224-1261. From New Bern Hwy 17 turn right on Pollock Street beside Trent Motel go 1/4 mile on right. (April-July) Produce Stand located in New Bern behind Moore's Barbeque on Trent Road. (May-Novemeber) Also located at Brice's Creek beside Merchants Store. (June-July). Monday to Saturday; April thru November 15 (Varies according to season). Crop availability: Strawberries & Spring vegetables - April-June Sweet Corn & Summer vegetables - June-August Sweet Potatoes & Fall vegetables - September-March.

 

 

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