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Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Southern Piedmont area of 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 any state, nor even every state, have strawberries 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.

Moore County

  • Carter Farms - Strawberries
    673 Eagle Springs Road, Eagle Springs, NC 27242. Phone: (910) 673-7730. Open: April 15-June 1; Call for hours and availability. Directions: Located on 673 Eagle Springs Road one half mile from Hwy 211 in Eagle Springs. Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (910) 673-2666. Crop availability: - April-June Sweet Potatoes - August-November. .
  • 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)
  • Karefree Produce - blueberries, grapes, strawberries, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs
    4680 US 15-501 Hwy, Carthage, NC 28327. Phone: 910-690-6722. Email: info@karefreeproduce.com. Open: STRAWBERRY SEASON JUNE THRU DECEMBER Monday-Saturday 8am to 6pm Tuesday-Friday 9am to 5:00pm; Sunday CLOSED Saturday 9:00 to 3:00 pm; Sunday & Monday CLOSED. Directions: From Hardees in Carthage take highway 15-501 South. Travel 1 12 miles and farm will be on the left just passed Quality Mart. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
    Karefree Produce Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 910-639-4971. . From Hardees in Carthage take highway 15-501 South. Travel 1 1/2 miles and farm will be on the left just passed Quality Mart. Strawberries: April 01 to June 01 Pumpkins: October 01 to December 01 Christmas Trees: Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. We try to grow everything that we sell to insure that we offer locally grown produce. We buy from local farmers the items that we cannot grow such as orchard fruits. We close our farm on Christmas and re-open March 01 because our growing season does not extend into those months in this area. We also sell our tomatoes and strawberries to the Fresh Markets in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, and Greensboro.
  • Olde Carthage Farm - CERTIFIED ORGANIC, blackberries, blueberries, flowers, table grapes (with seeds), strawberries, U-pick and already picked, picnic area you may bring your own food, school tours
    2270 US Highway 15 501, Carthage, NC 28327. Phone: (919) 353-0179. Email: oldecarthagefarm@gmail.com. Open: Call for hours; Subject to season and weather. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
    Olde Carthage Farm Facebook page. . We are a small family owned and operated organic farm currently offering strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, tomatoes and flowers. We will pick them for you or you can spend some time with us picking your own. We currently have strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, Muscadine grapes, tomatoes, and flowers. We use no pesticides, no herbicides and if there's a weed, we have to bend over and pull it by hand. We do things the hard way..the right way. (UPDATED: July 22, 2021) (ADDED: June 15, 2017, JBS)
  • Pilson Strawberry Farm - Strawberries
    1175 Cranes Creek Road, Cameron, NC 28326. Phone: (910) 245-7364. Directions: Located on US 1 Hwy between Cameron and Vass #1888, 3 miles south of overhead bridge at Cameron on US 1 Hwy. . Click here for a map and directions. Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 7:30 am to 'til sold out. Crop availability: - mid April-early June.
  • Ring's Strawberry Farm - Strawberries, Vegetables
    1843 Airport Road, Lakeview, NC 28350. Phone: (910) 949-2657. Open: 7:30 am to noon; late April-end of season; Call for days. Directions: Located on Airport Road 1843, 1.5 miles west of Lakeview, 2.5 miles east of airport. North of Carthage on NC 15-501. Turn right on Bryant Road 12 mile on right. . Click here for a map and directions. . Located on Airport Road 1843, 1.5 miles west of Lakeview, 2.5 miles east of airport. North of Carthage on NC 15-501. Turn right on Bryant Road 1/2 mile on right. Crop availability: Strawberries & Vegetables - in season.

Richmond County

  • Berry Patch - Greenhouse Tomatoes, Onions, Strawberries
    351 Cargo Road, Ellerbe, NC 28338. Phone: (910)652-FARM. Open: Daily from 8 am to 8 pm. Directions: Located 5 miles south of Ellerbe and 5 miles north of Rockingham on Hwy 220. Click here for a map and directions. . Exit 25, Hwy 220, I-73/74,. Crop availability: Strawberries, Spring Onions & Greenhouse Tomatoes - April-June.
  • Mabe's Strawberries - Strawberries, blueberries
    104 Mabe Lane, Ellerbe, NC 28338. Phone: (910) 652-5656. Open: Every day from 8 am to 8 pm or until picked out; We open at 8 am and at that time, we start taking orders for prepicked berries. Directions: Located 2.5 miles north of Ellerbe on Hwy 220. Crop availability: Strawberries - April-June. . Click here for a map and directions.
    Mabe's Strawberries Facebook page. . Every day from 8 am to 8 pm (or until picked out); We open at 8 am and at that time, we start taking orders for prepicked berries. PLEASE place your order before driving to the farm to assure you get some of Mabe's finest! For pick-your-own, call ahead to check field conditions and weather before driving out.
  • 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.

Scotland County

  • Fontcol Farms - strawberries
    23800 Airbase Rd, Wagram, NC 28396. Phone: (910) 318-2015. Email: jpembrick@laurinburgexchange.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021, The owner tells me they are closed indefinitely Strawberries start in early April; Always check the Fontcol Farms Facebook page before visiting the farm. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash only. Fontcol Farms . Inclement weather updates and other announcements will be posted online. Grab a bucket, choose a row and start picking! In 2019, Pre-picked flats are for sale at $3.00/lb. U-pick is also available at $1.75/lb. Personal containers welcome. Strawberry season is upon us! is happy to announce that the season will begin on in mid-April. Here are a few things to consider before visiting the farm: All PEOPLE are welcome! Please leave pets at home! No animals will be allowed in the gates this year. Children may not be left unattended- this includes inside vehicles, in the sitting areas or anywhere else on the farm. We are a fire arm and tobacco free environment and do not allow smoking or vaping of any kind on the property. Customers with fire arms or tobacco will be asked to kindly leave the farm. Personal containers and baskets are welcome! In 2021, Pre-picked flats were for sale at $3.00/lb and U-pick berries were available for $1.75/lb. Call ahead orders larger than three $15 flats MUST be made 24 hours in advance. Current weather - click for forecast, or enter a zip code for a different location:

 

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

strawberry pick-your-own field

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. strawberry picking bucket from Washington FarmsMost 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.


    strawberries, just picked from the fieldIf 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.Sttawberry bush with ripe strawberries, up close

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.how to pick strawberries

  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

close-up of the rows in a strawberry patch at at PYO strawberry fieldWhether 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

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 onstrawberries shown in different stages of ripeness 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.crowded parking at a Strawberry u-pick field
  • 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:

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)