Berry Picking Near Raleigh: What You Need to Know
Raleigh has strong access to North Carolina's blueberry industry, one of the largest in the country, with farms concentrated in the southeastern part of the state as well as strawberry operations closer to the capital. The strawberry season in May is a Piedmont tradition, with blueberries following through summer.
Southeastern Berry Season
The Southeast enjoys one of the earliest and longest berry seasons in the country, with Florida's strawberry farms often producing fruit as early as March, well ahead of the rest of the nation. Georgia and South Carolina contribute major blueberry industries, particularly the rabbiteye varieties that thrive in the region's warm, humid summers, while North Carolina ranks among the top blueberry-producing states nationally. Blackberries grow wild and cultivated throughout the Appalachian foothills from Tennessee through the Carolinas, giving the region a berry season that can run from early spring strawberries through midsummer blueberries and blackberries.
Best Time to Go Berry Picking Near Raleigh
Strawberries in May, followed by one of the country's largest blueberry harvests from June through July in the southeastern counties.
Tips for Your Raleigh Berry Picking Trip
North Carolina blueberry farms in the southeastern part of the state are a longer drive from Raleigh, so consider combining the trip with a coastal visit to make the most of the distance.