2024 Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina Corn U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Southern Piedmont area of 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.

Harnett County

• Johnson Strawberry Farm - Strawberries, Watermelon, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Corn, Onions, Potatoes, Squash,
  2801 Hobson Road 301 North, Dunn, NC 28334. Phone: 910-892-4926. Email: bjohnsonstrawberriefarm@yahoo.com. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located one mile north of Dunn on Hwy 301. Click here for a map and directions. Johnson Strawberry Farm Phone: (910) 892-9711. . Crop availability: Strawberries & Squash - April-June Irish Potatoes - April-May Corn - June Cantaloupes - June-July Watermelon - July Cabbage & Onions - May-June. .

Lee County

• Gary Thomas Farms - Asparagus, Beans, Blackberry, Corn, Cucumber, Greenhouse Tomatoes, Greenhouse Vegetables, Jellies, Jams, Onions, Strawberries
  443 Thomas Road, Sanford, NC 27330. Phone: (919) 258-3035. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located off Hwy 42 East towards Broadway, go one mile turn left on Rice Toad at East Lee Middle School, one half mile on right is Thomas Road, one half mile on left is Gary Thomas Strawberries. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (919) 258-3262 Crop availability: Strawberries, Sweet Onions, Greenhouse Tomatoes & Cucumbers - mid April-June Asparagus - late April-mid May Green Beans & Sweet Corn - June-early July Blackberries - June-July. Homemade jam & jelly. website.
• Gross Farms, LLC - asparagus, beans, corn (sweet), cucumbers, melons, onions, peas, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, strawberries, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, concessions or refreshment stand, porta-potties are available, restrooms, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  1606 Pickett Road, Sanford, NC 27332. Phone: 919-498-6727. Email: info@grossfarms.com. Open: Mid - Late April - End of July on Monday - Saturday from 7:30am to 6 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Directions: Gross Farms is conveniently located 4 miles south of Sanford, NC on NC 87. From Raleigh: Take US 1 south to Sanford. Take NC 87 South for approximately 8 miles. Turn left onto Pickett Road. The farm is located 12 mile on the left. From Sanford: Take NC 87 South for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto Pickett Road. The farm is located 12 mile on the left. From Fayetteville: Take NC 87 North for approximately 25 miles. Turn right onto Pickett Road. The farm is located 12 mile on the left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Gross Farms, LLC Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 919-499-4522. Fax: 919-498-6731. . Gross Farms is conveniently located 4 miles south of Sanford, NC on NC 87. From Raleigh: Take US 1 south to Sanford. Take NC 87 South for approximately 8 miles. Turn left onto Pickett Road. The farm is located 1/2 mile on the left. From Sanford: Take NC 87 South for approximately 4 miles. Turn left onto Pickett Road. The farm is located 1/2 mile on the left. From Fayetteville: Take NC 87 North for approximately 25 miles. Turn right onto Pickett Road. The farm is located 1/2 mile on the left. Strawberries: Mid-late April to end of May Asparagus: late April and May Sweet Corn: late June and July Pumpkins: late September and October.
  Comments from a visitor on September 21, 2012: "Loved it. Great for military families (they offer discount!) and the little ones really enjoyed picking their own pumpkin and the playground!"
• Harrington Farms - Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Collards, Corn, Greens, Potatoes, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Onions
  1412 San Lee Drive, Sanford, NC 27330. Phone: (919) 775-4242. Open: UPDATE for 2021, Once again Harrington & Sons Farms has made a difficult decision and will not be growing any strawberries or produce in 2021; We appreciate all of our customers and business through the years; Please keep us in mind for the future, in a normal year, hours are Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located at Central Carolina Community College, go past to stop sign, left 14 mile, field is on left. Click here for a map and directions. Harrington Farms Phone: (919) 776-6730. Located at Central Carolina Community College, go past to stop sign, left 1/4 mile, field is on left. From Sanford, San Lee Drive to 1412 San Lee Drive. Follow signs. Crop availability: Strawberries, Onions, Cabbage, Potatoes, Broccoli & Asparagus - April-June Tomatoes - March-July Corn & Cantaloupe - July Greens - September- December Collards - November- December.
• Logan Farms - Corn, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes
  110 Logan Farm Lane, Sanford, NC 27330. Phone: (919) 776-1898. Open: Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 8 pm; April- December. Directions: Located halfway between Sanford and Siler City on Hwy 421 across Deep River at Gulf, one mile on North Plank Road, right on Logan Farm Lane. Click here for a map and directions. Logan Farms Phone: (919) 776-2277. Crop availability: Strawberries - May Sweet Corn - July Tomatoes - July-September Sweet Potatoes - August-October Bedding & Vegetable plants - April-October. .
• McNeill Farms - Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Corn, Onions, Squash, Strawberries, Watermelon
  5948 Lemon Springs Road, Sanford, NC 27332. Phone: (919) 774-1085. Open: Tuesday to Saturday 8 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. McNeill Farms From US 1 take Hwy 78, 3 miles east turn right on Lemon Springs Road go 3.5 miles to farm on right. From Lemon Springs 1 one half miles on Lemon Springs Road. Crop availability: Strawberries - April 15-June 15 Sweet Corn - July-September Cabbage, Broccoli & Onions - May-June 10 Okra - July-August Beans & Squash - June-August 1 Watermelon & Cantaloupe - June-September.

Moore County

• Frank's Strawberries, Sweet Corn & Vegetable Barn - Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Potatoes, Squash, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Vegetables
  444 Bryant Road, Carthage, NC 28327. Phone: (910) 947-5775. Open: Sunday and Saturday from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . Strawberries - April 16-June 20 Cabbage - April 16-May 15 Beets - June 15-July 15 Squash - May 15-Oct 1 Sweet Corn, Butterbeans, Green beans, Okra & Peas June-Oct 1 Melons - June 15-September 10 Tomatoes & Potatoes - June 15-October 1. Located 6 miles east of Carthage on Hwy 15/501 to Tony Gas & Grocery Store, turn on Bryant Road 1/2 mile to strawberry barn and parking lot (UPDATED: June 15, 2019, JBS)

Richmond County

• Wilson's Strawberries - Beans, Cantaloupe, Corn, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Watermelon
  303 Gold Leaf Farm Road, Ellerbe, NC 28338. Phone: (910) 652-5604. Open: Sunday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located on Hwy 1003, 6 miles north of Hoffman, 2 miles south of Derby on Sycamore Lane 2 miles from Derby. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Strawberries - April-June Watermelon & Cantaloupes - July-August Sweet Corn, Green Beans & Butterbeans - June-July Field Peas - June-September Okra & Tomatoes - July-September Sweet Potatoes - October-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