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

Corn U-Pick Orchards in Northeastern 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.

Chowan County

• Winborne Bros Farm - Beans, Cantaloupes, Corn, Gourds, HayBales, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Hay Rides
  3443 Rocky Hock Road, Edenton, NC 27932. Phone: (252) 221-4204. Open: Sunday noon-7 pm, Monday to Saturday 9 am to 7 pm; July 4 thru October 31. Directions: North of Edenton off Hwy 32, turn on Rocky Hock Road at Smalls Crossroads then go 2.2 miles. Farm on right. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Tomatoes & Butterbeans - July-August Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkins, Indian Corn, Gourds & mini haybales - September-October. Hayrides for school children

Currituck County

• Coinjock Creek Farms - beans, beets, blueberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, figs, onions, peas, peppers, summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Other fruit or veg,
  180 Maple Road, Maple, NC 27956. Phone: 252-267-3332. Email: info@coinjockcreek.com. Open: Monday through Sunday, 8 am to sunset; Call ahead!. Directions: From NC 168: turn onto Maple Road \(SR1246\); our farm is located .5 mile on the right. From US 158: turn onto Maple Road \(SR1246\); our farm is located 1.5 miles on the left. GPS Coordinates: Latitude 36.41207; Longitude -76.01002. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. . Fax: 888-241-5820. . From NC 168: turn onto Maple Road (SR1246); our farm is located .5 mile on the right. From US 158: turn onto Maple Road (SR1246); our farm is located 1.5 miles on the left. GPS Coordinates: Latitude 36.41207; Longitude -76.01002.
• Martin Orchard and Vineyards - apples, beans, blackberries, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, grapes, muscadine grapes, melons, pears, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, picnic area you may bring your own food, weddings and wedding parties, Wineries, Muscadine grapes,
  213 Martin Farm Lane, Knotts Island, NC 27950. Phone: 252 429 3542. Email: martinfarmandwinery@gmail.com. Open: 9 am to 5 daily mid - June - October 31st; it appears as though they do not always have pyo crops every year, iit seems to vary a lot, so call them. Directions: For a map to our farm, . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Martin Orchard and Vineyards Facebook page. . Peaches u-pick mid -June-mid August ;apples mid August- late September veggies july- October pumpkins mid October to late oct. family farm for 40 years on the outer banks of NC. (ADDED: August 11, 2016)
  Comments from a visitor on July 17, 2011: "Went to Martins Vinyard (Knotts Island, NC) last weekend and picked a bushel of peaches. This weekend the picking opened up for grapes and apples. Beautiful place and plenty of good pickin."
  Comments from a visitor on July 04, 2009: "Easy to park your car next to the peach trees, in early July, quite a few peaches. Only problem was the peaches were "color" ready, but otherwise were rock hard (still not ripe). $12 for 1 bag you are given that you put the peaches in. Will have grapes and apples too.
  Comments from a visitor on September 08, 2008: "This is a beautiful location and appeared to have lots of wonderful things to pick - however the apple crop this year is damaged. Lots of rotted apples on the ground & in the trees. We couldn't find more then 3 single apples that appeared in December ent condition. We did not try any of the other things available to pick but the location is absolutely beautiful (for what that is worth!)"

Hertford County

• McCaskey Farms, Inc. - Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Collards, Corn, Greens, Peppers, Squash, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Cucumber
  145 McCaskey Road, Ahoskie, NC 27910. Phone: (252) 332-2855. Open: Monday to Friday 8 am to 7 pm; April thru January. Directions: Located 5 miles outside Ahoskie between St. John and Union Communities off Hwy 461 on McCaskey Road. Only structure on left 12 mile after turning onto McCaskey Road. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (252) 398-2419. Located 5 miles outside Ahoskie between St. John and Union Communities off Hwy 461 on McCaskey Road. Only structure on left 1/2 mile after turning onto McCaskey Road. Crop availability: May Peas - May Strawberries - May-July Cabbage - May-July & October- December Salad - May-June & October- December Snaps, Tomatoes & Bell Peppers - June-July Sweet Corn - July Squash & Cucumbers - June-August Butter Beans & Field Peas - July, August & September Broccoli - October- December Collards - November-January.

 

 

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