North Carolina is a significant producer of blueberries. The state’s diverse geography allows for a staggered, extended harvest, starting in warmer lower elevations and moving into cooler areas. This progression ensures a steady supply of fresh, locally grown blueberries for several months, typically spanning from late spring through mid-summer.
The General Seasonal Window in North Carolina
The blueberry season in North Carolina begins in early- to mid-May, offering some of the first fresh berries of the year from the Southeast. The commercial harvest generally peaks toward the middle of June, particularly in the major production areas of the Coastal Plain. This initial wave of fruit involves early-ripening cultivars that satisfy the demand for fresh berries in the early summer market.
Following the peak in June, the season continues strongly throughout July, extending with later-ripening varieties. Cultivars like Rabbiteye blueberries ripen from mid-June to mid-August, extending the summer harvest. The harvest window can stretch into August in many parts of the state, especially with these later varieties and at higher elevations.
Regional Climate Impacts and Varietal Differences
The length of North Carolina’s blueberry season is directly related to the state’s varied geography, which influences climate and cultivar choice. Primary commercial production is concentrated in the warmer southeastern Coastal Plain, including counties like Bladen and Pender. This region’s acidic, sand-based soils and warmer temperatures favor earlier ripening, leading to the commercial peak in late May through June.
Moving inland to the Piedmont and Mountain regions, cooler temperatures and higher elevations delay the harvest. Farmers in the cooler Mountain areas, especially those above 2,500 feet, rely on highbush blueberries, which require more chilling for setting fruit. The harvest in Western North Carolina typically peaks later, from late June through August.
Different blueberry species grown across the state also contribute to the extended harvest timeline. Early-season harvests often feature Southern Highbush varieties, which adapt well to the Piedmont and Coastal Plains. Later in the season, the heat-tolerant Rabbiteye blueberries, native to the Southern U.S., become the dominant variety, ripening from mid-June to mid-August. This strategic selection of varieties allows growers to manage the season’s start and end times.
Navigating U-Pick Farms and Farmers’ Markets
For consumers seeking the freshest berries, U-Pick farms and local farmers’ markets are the best avenues for access during the season. Since timing is highly localized and dependent on factors like microclimate and specific cultivars, it is important to check the farm’s status before visiting. Adverse weather or an influx of pickers can cause a farm to run out of ripe fruit quickly, ending their picking window earlier than expected.
Many farms post their current availability and hours on their websites or social media, or you can call ahead for a picking report. When picking, look for plump, firm berries that are completely blue, as they will not ripen further once picked. Rabbiteye varieties, often grown by U-Pick operations, should be picked less often than Highbush to allow for maximum flavor development.