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

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Northwestern 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.

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.
• The Farm - strawberries, pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, corn maze
  769 Bray Ford Road, Dobson, NC 27017. Phone: 336-817-5208. Email: hey@letsgotothefarm.com. Open: strawberries in the Spring and pumpkins in Sept 17- Nov 7 Friday-Sunday. Click here for a map and directions. . We grow all of our own pumpkins!! We have a upick patch to pick them right off the vine!

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.

 

 

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