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

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have tomatoes 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

Harnett County

• Farmer's Strawberries & Produce - Beans, Cabbage, Squash, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Onions, Potatoes
  209 Holder Road, Lillington, NC 27546. Phone: (910) 893-6076. Open: Sunday-Saturday Call for hours & availability. Directions: Located 4 miles west of Lillington on Hwy 27. . Click here for a map and directions. . Phone: (910) 893-3623Sunday-Saturday (Call for hours & availability.). Crop availability: Strawberries - April-May Squash - April Onions, Snaps, Tomatoes, Potatoes & Cabbage - April-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.
• 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.

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 1Located 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)
• The Farm at Star Ridge Aquatics, LLC - Uses natural growing practices, blackberries, blueberries, muscadine grapes, slicing cucumbers, sweet peppers, Heirloom tomatoes, paste or Roma tomatoes, tomatoes, restrooms, WiFi is available, Cell service cell phones work here, school tours
  180 Star Ridge Rd, Carthage, NC 28327. Phone: (910) 603-7778. Email: starridgaquatics@gmail.com. Open: Wednesday to Saturday 9a - 4p Spring, Summer and Fall Wed - Friday 9a - 4p Winter Hours. Directions: 180 Star Ridge Rd, Carthage, NC 28327. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, All credit cards, ApplePay, Venmo.
  The Farm at Star Ridge Aquatics, LLC Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: (910) 947-5333 Wednesday to Saturday / 9a - 4p Spring, Summer and Fall Wed - Friday / 9a - 4p Winter HoursWe use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification Click here for our Instagram page. Celebrating over 30 years of serving locals and beyond, we are family owned and operated. We look forward to your visit to Star Ridge Aquatics, LLC. For berries, muscadines, seasonal produce, farm fresh eggs, and honey, come see us at The Farm at Star Ridge Aquatics. (ADDED: June 03, 2024)

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.
• 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

 

Tomatoes

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

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