Crawfish in North Carolina are raised in ponds such as the one shown above at farms across the state. Crawfish growers stock a pond only once. They drain the pond yearly in the winter when the crawfish live in the ground. Crawfish are particularly suited to warm climates. Though the N.C. crawfish season runs from the end of May through mid-July, a cooler than normal spring can cause the populations to mature later in the year.
Crawfish boils in North Carolina are popular attractions at farmers markets, where the crustaceans sell out quickly. The N.C. Crawfish Growers Association holds two big boils a year. The first of these will be held at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax tomorrow. The other will be held as part of Crawfish Day on Saturday, June 25, at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Growers also sell their crop pondside. A directory of local growers can be found online at NC-Seafood.org.