2024 Central-East North Carolina Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Central-East 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.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Edgecombe County

• Green Acres Strawberries - Cabbage, Greens, Onions, Strawberries
  6838 NC Hwy 33 NW, Tarboro, NC 27886. Phone: (252) 823-5111. Open: Sunday to Saturday 9 am to 7 pm; April-June. Directions: Located on 6838 NC Hwy 33 NW, 7 miles northwest of Tarboro. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (252) 823-6351 Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage, Onions & Greens - April-June.
• Morris Strawberry Farm - Cabbage, Greens, Onions, Potatoes, Strawberries
  692 Webbs Chapel Road, Macclesfield, NC 27852. Phone: (252) 827-4736. Open: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 7 pm; April 15-May 31. Directions: From Crisp take Webbs Chapel Road 12 mile farm on right. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (252) 813-7656From Crisp take Webbs Chapel Road 1/2 mile farm on right Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage, Salad, Onions & Potatoes - April-May.
• OJ Smith Farms, Inc - Strawberries
  12675 NC 48, Whitakers, NC 27891. Phone: (252) 437-1721. Open: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 6 pm; end of April thru June. Directions: Located off I-95, Exit 150, Hwy 33. . Click here for a map and directions.

Greene County

• Jones Fruit Farm - Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Peaches, Strawberries
  7094 Beaman Old Creek Road, Walstonburg, NC 27888. Phone: (252) 747-3989. Open: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 7 pm; late June-Aug. Click here for a map and directions. . Other Click here for a map to the farmOpen Typical harvest dates: Strawberries - April-June Peaches - June-August Cabbage - May Blueberries - June-July Cantaloupes & Melons - July-August. Special Services: Homemade ice cream (in-season fruits); Call in orders acceptedLocated 8 miles north of Snow Hill off Hwy 58 on Beaman Old Creek Road (1222).

Lenoir County

• Cottle Farms, Inc. - Strawberries
  Airport Road, Kinston, NC 28502. Phone: (252) 523-2203. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located on Airport Road near airport. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (919) 267-4531 Crop availability: - April-June.
• T.C. Smith Produce Farm - Blueberries, Strawberries
  464 Smith-Grady Road, Seven Springs, NC 28578. Phone: (252) 569-7011. Email: tcsmithproduce@coastalnet.com. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 6:30 pm; Apr 10- December 1. Directions: Located off Hwy 55 west of Kinston , past Moss Hill School . First paved road turn left at Strabane Crossroads .6 mile on right. Watch for signs. . Click here for a map and directions. . Other Phone: (252) 521-3503. Open Click here for a map to the farm Typical harvest dates: Strawberries - April-June Red Potatoes - May Cabbage, Cucumber & Squash - May-June Blueberries - June-July Cantaloupe, Watermelon & Tomatoes - June-August Sweet Potatoes & Collards - October- December. Picnic facilities

Martin County

• Berry Tyme Farms - Strawberries
  1504 Wendell Modlin Road, Jamesville, NC 27846. Phone: 252-792-1613. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located one mile off Hwy 64 east to Jamesville turn right on Hwy 171. Go 1.2 miles to Wendell Modlin Road, turn right follow signs. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: 252-792-6916 Crop availability: - May-June.
• Farmer's Garden - Berry Patch - Blueberries, Strawberries
  PO Box 250, Robersonville, NC 27871. Phone: (252) 795-5296. Open: Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 6 pm. Directions: Located Hwy 64 east about one mile east of Robersonville. Click here for a map and directions. . Other Phone: (252) 795-4776. Click here for a map to the farmOpen Typical harvest dates: Strawberries - April-June Blueberries - June-August
• The Berry Patch - Strawberries
  PO Box 477, Robersonville, NC 27871. Phone: (252) 795-3448. Email: scatacres1@aol.com. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 5 pm; April thru June. Directions: Located on Hwy 64 Alt, 12 mile east of Robersonville, NC next to Filling Station Restaurant. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (252) 714-8188 Located on Hwy 64 Alt, 1/2 mile east of Robersonville, NC next to Filling Station Restaurant

Pitt County

• Brileys Strawberries & Produce - Beans, Cabbage, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Crop Maze, Picnic Facilities, Hay Rides, Animals, Pumpkin
  2312 Ram Horn Road, Greenville, NC 27834. Phone: (252) 413-6155. Open: April 20-Nov 15; Call for hours. Directions: Located Hwy 264 East, 3 miles from Greenville Marine, 10 miles from Washington, NC. Produce Stand located on corner of 14th Street & Greenville Blvd. across from Trade Mart #1.Corn Maze, Hayrides, Picnic facilities & Petting Barn. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Brileys Strawberries & Produce Facebook page. . Phone: (252) 757-3969 Briley's Farm Market is a third generation family owned farm in Pitt County. We specialize in fresh produce and vegetables. With over 90 acres, we have something for everyone! In the fall, we open our farm for pumpkin season. There are games, hay rides, and animals to visit.
• Brock's Berries & Produce Farm - blackberries, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area you may bring your own food, inflatables or bounce houses, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations
  862 Laurie Ellis Rd, Winterville, NC 28590. Phone: 252-321-2197. Email: brocksberries@gmail.com. Open: See our website and Facebook page for current hours. Directions: from Best Buy in Greenville drive south on Evans Street toward Winterville for about 4 miles.\(Evans Street becomes Old Tar Road\) Continue on Tar Road past the Trade Station in Winterville. Take the first left onto Laurie Ellis Road The farm is less than one half mile on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check. 83Brock's Berries & Produce Farm Alternate Phone: 252-531-3329 from Best Buy in Greenville drive south on Evans Street toward Winterville for about 4 miles.(Evans Street becomes Old Tar Road) Continue on Tar Road past the Trade Station in Winterville. Take the first left onto Laurie Ellis Road The farm is less than one half mile on the right We welcome school groups and daycare centers with appointments.
• Haddock Orchard - Flowers, Grapes, Peach, Strawberries, Vegetables
  5992 County Home, Winterville, NC 28590. Phone: (252) 756-3433. Open: Monday to Saturday 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: From Greenville, take Arlington Blvd. south and continue on Count Home Road \(approximately 5 miles\) farm on right. . Click here for a map and directions. From Greenville, take Arlington Blvd. south and continue on Count Home Road (approximately 5 miles) farm on right Crop availability: Strawberries - April 15-June 1 Peaches - June-July Mixed Vegetables - in-season Grapes - August 15-October Nursery Stock & Flowers.
• Strawberries on 903 - Strawberries, Asparagus, Cabbage, Corn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Onions, Cucumber
  3709 NC 903 S, Winterville, NC 28590. Phone: (252) 321-3204. Email: info@strawberrieson903.com. Open: Sunday 1 am to 6 pm; Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 6 pm; April thru July 1. Directions: Located 4 miles south of Winterville, on Hwy 903 South. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: 252-714-3848 Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage, Irish Potatoes, Onions - April-June Garden Peas - May Asparagus - April-May Cucumbers - May-June Sweet Corn - June-July Pumpkins - September-November. Farm tours for school groups and picnic area. We offer a wide variety of fresh produce at our roadside stand on NC 903. We also have a booth at the Pitt County Farmer's Market on Saturdays from 7am to 1pm. Selection varies at both locations and is dependent upon weather and current season. Please call ahead to inquire about current availability;

Wayne County

• Cottle Farms, Inc. - Strawberries
  Hwy 117-South, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Phone: (919) 735-5601. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 7 pm. Directions: Located on Hwy 117 South across from the Neuse River Shopping Center. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (910) 267-4531 Crop availability: - April-June.
• Elroy Farms - Beans, Christmas Tree Live, Corn, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Vegetables
  170 Woodpeck Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534. Phone: (919) 778-2381. Open: Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 6 pm; April thru December. Directions: Located on Hwy 70 east of Goldsboro, one half mile east of Hwy 111 & Hwy 70 intersection, farm market located on right side of 70 East. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (919) 778-6303 Crop availability: Strawberries - April-June Tomatoes - June-September Beans & Melons - June-October Pumpkins - September-November Corn - June-August Mixed Vegetables - April-November Christmas Trees - November- December.
• Jack D. Smith - Cabbage, Corn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Strawberries
  686 Riverbend Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Phone: (919) 731-7269. Open: Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm; April-October. Directions: Located on NC 581 South - 200 yards south of US 70 and NC 581 intersection. . Click here for a map and directions. Crop availability: Strawberries, Cabbage & Potatoes - May Sweet Corn - June-July Pumpkins - September-October.
• Odom Farming Company, Inc - strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties are available, picnic area, birthday parties, school tours
  1426 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Phone: 9197382905. Email: odomfarmingcoinc@gmail.com. Open: Monday - Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm April 18 through the first week of June. Directions: From highway 70W: Just after you cross the Little River Bridge take a right at the first stoplight. There is a McDonalds on the corner. Follow that road \(Claridge Nursery Road\) down about three miles and the farm is on the right just after you pass a mini storage. From highway 581S: Just after you cross the Little River Bridge take the next left \(Claridge Nursery Road\). Drive about 14 of a mile ant the farm is on your left. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Odom Farming Company, Inc Facebook page. From highway 70W: Just after you cross the Little River Bridge take a right at the first stoplight. There is a McDonalds on the corner. Follow that road (Claridge Nursery Road) down about three miles and the farm is on the right just after you pass a mini storage. From highway 581S: Just after you cross the Little River Bridge take the next left (Claridge Nursery Road). Drive about 1/4 of a mile ant the farm is on your left Family farm offering pick-your-own/we pick strawberries in the spring, a CSA during the summer, and a corn maze/pumpkin patch in the fall
• Smith's Strawberries - U-pick strawberries,
  Hwy 581 southbound between Hwy 70 and Rosewood Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Phone: . Open: easonally from about May to September; Call for the hours or days. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.

Wilson County

• Deans Farm Market - strawberries, Precut Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths and boughs, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, and prepicked produce, restrooms, tractor-pulled hay rides
  4231 NC Hwy 42 West, Wilson, NC 27893. Phone: 252-237-0967. Email: deansfarmmarket@yahoo.com. Open: Current Hours Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Saturday, 8 am to 2 pm Hours change according to season. Directions: From Hwy 95 exit 116 \(Hwy 42 exit\) go east \(towards Wilson\) about 5 miles, Deans Farm is on the right. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard. Fax: 252-237-9466 From Hwy 95 exit 116 (Hwy 42 exit) go east (towards Wilson) about 5 miles, Deans Farm is on the rightCrops are usually available in April, May, October Strawberries are typically available the last part of April through first of June Pumpkin patch is available during the month of October with the hayride. Christmas trees are available during DecemberHayrides with a cotton maze the month of October. We do school/ daycares/ church field trips in May and October. We also carry fresh jams,jellies, and pure honey. (UPDATED: May 29, 2015, JBS)

 

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:

1. 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!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. 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.
4. 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

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. 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:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• 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.
• Want to grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• 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

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

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