2024 Eastern Coastal North Carolina Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!
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Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Eastern Coastal North Carolina in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for strawberries that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms 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.
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Beaufort County
Southside Farms - Broccoli, Cabbage, Collards, Onions, Potatoes, Strawberries 320 Harding Lane, Chocowinity, NC 27817. Phone: (252) 946-2487. Email: info@southsidefarms.com. Open: Monday through Saturday 7 am to 6 pm. Directions: Located 3 miles south of Chocowinity down Hwy 17 turn left on Barr Road \(off Hwy 17\). Turn right on Harding Lane. Farm is 12 mile on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Southside Farms Facebook page. . Phone: (252) 946-9349. Located 3 miles south of Chocowinity down Hwy 17 turn left on Barr Road (off Hwy 17). Turn right on Harding Lane. Farm is 1/2 mile on right Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage, Broccoli, Potatoes, Onions, Collards & Lettuce - April 15-June 5. Facebook page.
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. .
Bucks Corner Farm - strawberries 338 Whitehouse Fork Road, Peletier, NC 28584. Phone: (252) 241-2755. Open: Sunday 1:30 pm-5 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am-5 pm; April 1 thru November 25. Directions: Located 338 Whitehouse Fork Road, Peletier, NC, 3 miles north of Cape Carteret just off NC 58, 12 mile of NC 58 on Whitehouse Fork Road. Click here for a map and directions. . Alternate Phone: (252) 393-8949 Located 338 Whitehouse Fork Road, Peletier, NC, 3 miles north of Cape Carteret just off NC 58, 1/2 mile of NC 58 on Whitehouse Fork Road. 1/2 mile of NC 58 on Bucks Corner Road, 3 1/2 miles north of Cape Carteret from intersection of 24 & 58 3 miles north. Pick-Your-Own Farm and Roadside Market, the latter offers Broccoli, Cabbage, Collards, Corn, Cucumbers, Peppers, Potatoes, Squash, , Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Watermelons. (ADDED: May 04, 2010, from the NC Ag website)
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.
JW Merrell Farm - strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs 1725 highway 101, Beaufort, NC 28516. Phone: -5771. Email: farmjoe@ec.rr.com. Open: Monday to Saturday 8am to 5pm Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Directions: Four miles north of Beaufort on Highway 101, on left side of road or four miles south of Core Creek highrise bridge, on right side of road. Payment: Cash, Check. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. JW Merrell Farm Facebook page. Click here for a link to our Facebook page
Simpson's Berry Patch - Strawberries, Cantaloupe, Greenhouse Tomatoes, Greenhouse Vegetables, Vegetables, Watermelon, Cucumber, Sweet Potatoes 759 Hwy 70, Bettie, Beaufort, NC 28516. Phone: (252) 728-3508. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, April 15- December. Directions: Located 6 miles east of Beaufort, NC on Hwy 70 in the Bettie Community. . Click here for a map and directions. Simpson's Berry Patch Phone: Crop availability: Strawberries - April 15-June 20 Garden Vegetables, Greenhouse Tomatoes & Cucumbers - April 15-July 20 Cantaloupes, Watermelons - July 1-August 1 Sweet Potatoes - September to December.
Willis Strawberry & Vegetable Farm - Strawberries, farm stand 575 Chatham Street, Newport, NC 28570. Phone: (252) 223-5227. Open: Monday thru Saturday from 8 am to 7 pm; Sunday 10 to 5; April thru mid August. Directions: Located 2 miles east of Newport at the corner of Chatham Street & Willis Farm Road across from Newport Middle School. Click here for a map and directions. Willis Strawberry & Vegetable Farm Alternate Phone: 252-223-4447 . Crop availability: Strawberries & Lettuce - April-May Cabbage - April-June Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Squash - April-August Garden Peas - May-June Onions - May-July Potatoes - May-August Snap Beans - June-July Peas, Cantaloupe, Watermelon & Sweet corn - June-August Butterbeans - July-August
Craven County
White's Farm and Greenhouses - Greenhouse Tomatoes, Strawberries 5200 US 17 N, Vanceboro, NC 28586. Phone: (252) 244-2106. Open: Sunday 10 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 7 pm; April-November 1. Directions: Located on US 17 10 miles north of New Bern. . Click here for a map and directions. White's Farm and Greenhouses Facebook page. Crop availability: Greenhouse Strawberries - December-March Greenhouse Tomatoes - December-June Greenhouse Collards & Cabbage - Nov-February Watermelon, Collards, Cantaloupe, Cabbage, Potatoes, Squash & Cucumber - April-July Oysters - November-January Potted plants, Perennials & Hanging Baskets - year-round. Gift Shop. White's Farm & Greenhouses Facebook page
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) 224-1261From 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.
Pamlico County
Holton Farm - strawberries 1018 Olympia Road, New Bern, NC 28560. Phone: (252) 633-0061. Open: from late April through the early June. Click here for a map and directions. , call for hours Located just off highway 55 near the Craven/Pamlico County line (Olympia). Turn at Broad Creek Christian Church. About 1 mile down Olympia Road on the left. Look for the "Pick Your Own" signs! Call for specific dates and times as well as fruit and vegetable availability. (ADDED: May 31, 2013, suggested by a visitor) A visitor writes on May 31, 2013: "Through many years and several generations the has supplied area tables with fresh-from-the-farm goodness. Every year sweet, juicy come out of the fields by the bucketful. Pick your own, or try the convenience of those ready-picked by the Holton crew. After strawberry season, you will find lots of healthy, homegrown colorful vegetables to light up your summer table."
Strawberry
Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas,
May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the
far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the
month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce
good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions.
Before you leave to go to the farm:
Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather
(both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are
in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL
first!
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
Most growers furnish picking containers designed
for strawberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping
strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries.
Plastic
dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good
containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can
work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the
sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring
along if it has been rainy.
Tips on How to Pick Strawberries
Grasp the stem just above the berry between the
forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
With the stem broken about one-half inch from
the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.
Repeat these operations using both hands until
each holds 3 or 4 berries.
Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into
your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
Don't overfill your containers or try to pack
the berries down.
General Picking Tips
Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at
a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Be careful that your feet and knees do not
damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part
the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
To help the farmers, also remove from the plants
berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them
between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will
quickly spread to other berries.
Berries to be used immediately may be picked any
time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the
early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the
day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine any
longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or
shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible
after picking. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few
days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor
and tends to shrivel.
For interesting and fun strawberry facts and
trivia from the California Strawberry Commission,
click
here!
When you get home
DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them. Washing
makes them more prone to spoiling.
Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting
berries
Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps
(green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make
jam right away) See this
page about how to freeze strawberries.
If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they
planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor
of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of
ripeness when picked.
Picking the best strawberries:
Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after
they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is
completely ripe.
Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you
can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most
commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake. To find out where and when there
is one near you, see this
page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
Strawberries measurements: government agriculture
websites tell us that 1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the
same as 1 liter and 1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or
450 to 600 g).
Of course, the weight
varies on variety and weather conditions. 1 quart is normally
enough for 4
servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries =
approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing
the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or
about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought. Consumer
reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide
residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the
pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries
are reasonably plentiful
The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does
not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is
rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through
plastic mulch!
Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry
only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase
as strawberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a
couple of days in the refrigerator.
You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just
wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much
air as possible. Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of
this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was
'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
California is king of strawberry productions because: California
produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds
of strawberries each year. If all the strawberries produced in
California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around
the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry
production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with
a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.
More conversions
1 pint (2 cups) of fresh whole strawberries
= about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
= 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
= 1
cup pureed strawberries
= 12-14 large strawberries
2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie
A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced
fresh strawberries