Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
It’s shaping up to be a pretty strong blueberry season in North Carolina, which typically begins in mid-May and runs through August. Growers say they expect to have a solid crop this year.
Heavy rains in late May and early June slowed field work and harvest, so it probably won’t be a record year, Commissioner Troxler says. But there should be plenty of fresh, locally grown berries well into summer.
The majority of North Carolina blueberries are sold directly to consumers at local farmers markets, roadside stands and you-pick farms. Search www.ncfarmfresh.com to find local farms and markets. Local blueberries are also available in many groceries stores across the state.
Like a lot of the fruits grown in North Carolina, blueberries are versatile. You can eat them raw, make jams and preserves out of them, or use them in pies, pancakes, cobblers or ice cream.
North Carolina is the seventh-largest producer of blueberries in the nation, yielding about 49 million pounds in 2014. The majority of blueberry production is concentrated in the eastern part of North Carolina, but you can find berries across the state. Bladen County is the top producing county, with more than 3,000 acres of blueberries.
Click on the audio player below to listen to Commissioner Troxler and Rhonda talk about blueberry season in North Carolina.
[Audio:/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_6-28-16.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for June 28]
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