2024 Northwestern North Carolina Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
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Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Northwestern North Carolina in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes 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.
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Burke County
Beans 'n Berries CSA - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broad beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, figs, flowers, melons, pears, peas, peppers, persimmons, pumpkins, raspberries, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area 7155 Rhoney Road, Connelly Springs, NC 28612. Phone: 828-403-6989. Email: lochhoffman@yahoo.com. Open: Call before you go: I am open from April to December 7 days a week during daylight hours. Directions: From I 40 west take exit 105, go south 12 miles, turn right on Rhoney Road, drive way 200 yards on right. from I 40 east, take exit 121 to advent crossroads join G. Hildebrand school road, go 7 miles, turn left on hw 18, go one mile, turn right on Rhoney Road, driveway 200 yards of right . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . . Crops are usually available in April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic.
Surry County
Gary's Fresh Produce - Corn, Peppers, Potatoes, Tomatoes 113 Hazy Grove Way, Ararat, NC 27007. Phone: (336) 374-2454. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm; May 1 thru November 15. Directions: Located 6.5 miles west of Pilot Mountain, take Hwy 268 West out of Pilot Mountain, turn right on Eldor Road, sign 2.5 miles on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Tomatoes - July-September Corn - July-August Pepper & Potatoes - May-November.
Wilkes County
A&J Farm - Uses natural growing practices, beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, flowers, melons, onions, peas, pumpkins, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg, 995 Curtis Bridge Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659. Phone: 336-667-8059. Email: ajwholesalenc@aol.com. Open: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm We use natural practices, but are not yet certified Organic. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. . . Crops are usually available in May through September.
Yadkin County
Rocking W. Farm - Strawberries, Cucumber, Onions, Tomatoes, Corn, Greenhouse Tomatoes, Greenhouse Vegetables 2317 Lace Knoll Road, East Bend, NC 27018. Phone: (336) 961-6373. Open: Call for dates and hours of operation. Directions: From Winston Salem take US 421 to Speer Bridge Road exit right to Old US 421 left one mile to Falcon Road turn right. At end of Falcon Road turn left. Go 1 one half mile turn left on Rockett Road then go 1 one half mile turn left on Lace Knoll. Strawberry fields on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (336) 961-6640 Crop availability: Strawberries & Tomatoes - late April-June Corn - June-August Onions, Greenhouse Cucumbers & Tomatoes - Nov-June.
Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the
tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.
During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them
finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in
the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.
Tomato Varieties
In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry
tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water. But you can use any type you can get hold of. You may just have to cook them down
longer to boil off excess water. See our Master list of tomato varieties
Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!
Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes. Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and
food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food. For others, you
can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner. I've noted what's
required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!