N.C. blueberry season lasts from the end of May to the middle of July, and you can find some of the best berries right now at farmers markets around the state. Each year, blueberry farmers produce more than 30 million pounds of blueberries and the state ranks sixth in blueberry production in the nation.
To celebrate, the Southeastern N.C. Farmers Market in Lumberton will host Blueberry Day Saturday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can try free samples of blueberries and homemade blueberry ice cream while supplies last. You also can pick up a pint of blueberries to take home and use in your own recipes.
Master gardeners will be on hand in Asheville and Charlotte Saturday to offer free advice for gardening and plant-related issues. In Charlotte, the Master Gardeners of Mecklenburg County will offer a special program on sericulture, or how to compost kitchen scraps using worm bins. Experts will answer questions on how to start a compost bin, as well as offer tips on the pros and cons of using worms in composting.
In addition to these special events, the state-operated markets will have a large selection of fresh produce. Here’s a roundup of some of the items you can expect to find this weekend:
- WNC Farmers Market: tomatoes, squash, plums, cherries, peaches, cantaloupes and watermelon
- Piedmont Triad Farmers Market: strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes and peaches
- Charlotte Regional Farmers Market: tomatoes, strawberries and peaches
- State Farmers Market: blueberries, sweet corn, green beans, peaches, tomatoes and squash
- Southeastern N.C. Farmers Market: blueberries, potatoes, squash, zucchini, tomatoes