Strawberry picking Coverage

Farmers preparing for Monday morning frost advisory, freeze warnings

The National Weather Service issued a frost advisory and freeze warning from midnight Monday until 9 a.m. WRAL spoke with farmers who prepared to keep their strawberry crops safe as picking season draws near.

Rain or not, Strawberry Festival shines bright

In a rare break from the rain that's come through every weekend, Strawberry lovers made their way to Phillips Farms for their Strawberry Festival.

Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports+ executive producer

Strawberry picking near me: List of Triangle area u-pick strawberry farms🍓

Strawberry farms in the Triangle are now open and ready for strawberry lovers to come and fill up their buckets.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Warmer winter brings early strawberry season

Typically, fans of the popular fruit have to wait until April to stock up on the sweet fruit. However, this year's strawberry season is different.

Early strawberry season provides bounty for strawberry lovers

If you love farm fresh strawberries, now is the best time to buy them by the bucket-load. Typically, fans of the popular fruit have to wait until April to stock up on the sweet fruit. However, this year's strawberry season is different.

Rick Armstrong, WRAL photojournalist

Take the Kids: Millstone Creek Orchards Story Time

Just an hour outside of Raleigh sits a quiet slice of idyllic farm living and fresh fruit pickin'. There's something to enjoy nearly year-round at Millstone Creek Orchards.

Tara Lynn, WRAL contributor

You-pick flower season begins soon in central NC

Springtime has finally arrived in central North Carolina and seasonal activities have begun. While there's dozens of options for picking your own strawberries and strawberries, there's also several options for picking your own flowers.

Raleigh farmers babysit strawberry crops during Wednesday morning frost advisory

Page Farms in Raleigh will not open to the public for strawberry picking on Wednesday as farmers "babysit" and monitor their crops, which draw crowds to the farm each spring.

Nia Harden, WRAL reporter

Want to pick your own blueberries? The season begins now!

For most farmers in the state, blueberry season begins in mid- to late June. So, if you're hoping to branch out and try picking out your own blueberries - now is the time to start visiting farms near you.

Knightdale offers options for all ages

Knightdale, which is just nine miles from downtown Raleigh, has options for all ages to explore a new town without having to drive far.

Raleigh farmer guards strawberries from freezing temperatures

A Raleigh farmer sat in his car Thursday morning guarding his strawberry crops from near-freezing temperatures. He'll likely have to do the same thing Friday morning.

Nia Harden, WRAL reporter

Take the Kids: When the world shut down, Eno River Farm opened up, now preps for second year in business

The Hillsborough farm offers pick-your-own berries, homemade ice cream and lots of opportunities to make memories.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Strawberry patches aren't quite ready -- but they will be by mid-April

It's not time to get your buckets out just yet. But local strawberry farms are getting excited for the 2021 season and most have plans to reopen when the berries are red, which should be around April 15.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Pick up strawberries curbside at these six local farms

There are still plenty of strawberries out there for the picking -- or the picking up -- at local strawberry farms. The local season in the Triangle can run through about the first week of June.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

With business up, local strawberry farm hires workers who were recently unemployed

Local strawberry farms have been making changes because of the pandemic. Farmers we spoke with say after the initial unknowns, business has picked back up. The owner of Phillips Farms in Cary was concerned about getting the strawberries picked in time. He decided to bring in people who had recently become unemployed... to help harvest the crop. ​

Wake farm says infected workers never came in contact with public

Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported at four produce farms across North Carolina, including two in the Triangle.

Coronavirus outbreaks reported at NC produce farms

Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported at four produce farms across North Carolina, including two in the Triangle.

Keely Arthur, WRAL reporter

Strawberry farms bursting with strawberries and safety rules this season

The 2020 strawberry season ... well ... it looks a little bit different this year. The fields are bursting with strawberries -- or will be soon. But, this season, hand sanitizers and masks will be a common sight too.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Coronavirus doesn't stop opening day for Knightdale strawberry farm

At least 300 people showed up to pick strawberries. Owners reminded pickers to practice social distancing, there was a hand-washing station and a plexi-glass wall at the checkout counter.

Bill Leslie: Strawberry harvest

Spring would seem empty without a jaunt into a juicy field of strawberries. This family tradition started when my two children were barely big enough to hold a bucket.

Local farm lets you pick your own strawberries

Pick fresh strawberries with the whole family at this local farm.

Strawberry picking time: Find pick-your-own farms near you in Go Ask Mom's strawberry farm database

Strawberry farms across the region are gearing up for a big season of berry business.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Strawberry season starts in North Carolina

April marks the start of strawberry season, according to the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and local growers are expecting plentiful crops that should last through Memorial Day.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL digital journalist

Strawberry picking: Crop is ready at a few farms, but most need another week or two of warm weather

It's been a tough couple of months for strawberry growers as they faced erratic temperatures that shifted from the high 70s back in February, teasing out blooms weeks too early, to below freezing temperatures in March that were way too cold for the blooms to survive without help.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor