Discovering NC Agriculture is a social media series focusing on N.C. grown, raised, caught, and made commodities. Originally started in 2025, this series has been renewed to run for another year! Tune in each month to see how an N.C. commodity is grown, harvested, packed for consumer use and more. Learn nutritional value, find fun recipes to try, hear from local chefs who use that product, and other unique commodity facts throughout the series. We look forward to helping you better understand some of our N.C. commodities and how they impact your everyday lives!
Blueberries are native to North Carolina and have been a major player in our state’s agriculture industry for many years. In fact, if you look back in our history, blueberries have been on the scene for over ninety years! Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms Inc., located in Ivanhoe, has been producing blueberries almost that long, with their first bushes planted in 1941. Since then, the farm has grown to five farm sites producing over seven hundred acres of blueberries each year for customers across our state and beyond.
As a fourth-generation family farm, Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms is the definition of a family-owned and operated business. In 1941, John Moore and his two sons planted five acres of blueberry bushes just across the Bladen County line, now referred to as their “210 Farm”. “My great-grandfather learned about blueberries from the Cutt Brothers, blueberry farmers in New Jersey who moved to North Carolina looking for a new harvesting season,” said Anna Moore Hoy, Food Safety Coordinator and Inventory Manager for Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms. “Since blueberries are native to North Carolina, John knew that blueberries would produce well in this area and provide an earlier production window than in New Jersey.” In 1979, current owners H. Neil Moore and Willie R. Moore purchased the Cutt Brothers farm in Sampson County who decided to move back to New Jersey and officially incorporated Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms. From the original five acres, Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms has grown both in acreage and varieties. In fact, it is one of the most diverse blueberry farms in our state, producing over 25 varieties each year and working with N.C. State Extension by providing test plots for new varieties on their farm. Some of their most popular varieties are Legacy, O’Neal, Rebel and Powder Blue.
From the time a blueberry bush is planted to production is roughly three years. At Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms, the Moore family plants new bushes almost every year based on the age of bushes and current yield. “Blueberry bushes are a perennial plant that can produce berries for anywhere from 15 to 30 years and beyond,” Anna said. “We have bushes on this farm that are older than I am and are still producing berries. As the bushes cycle out of production, we plant new ones in the off-season, so we are always growing.” For blueberries, the off-season is typically mid-August to April each year, which is also when the Moore family is doing tasks like planting or pruning their bushes, so they are ready for another season. All varieties grown at the farm ripen at varying times, but harvest season starts on the farm around the second week of May each year. “We will hand harvest the first few pickings of each variety before switching to machine harvest. From mid-May to mid-July, we cycle through each variety on the farm as they become ripe, providing the freshest products for our customers. When a variety has been completely harvested, we typically hedge cut the majority of our bushes allowing for new growth during the summer months,” Anna said. Once the blueberries are picked, they are brought into the packing house on-site for packaging and shipping.
The 13,000 square-foot packing facility is where the harvested berries are prepared to ship. “All of our blueberries are brought in from the field and placed into the cooler for at least 24-hours before being packed,” Anna said. “This preserves their quality and flavor while also extending their shelf life.” Once cooled, blueberries are placed into five processing lines that lead to four clamshell fillers, which then disperse them into the appropriate containers. Blueberries at Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms are mostly packaged into flats of 12 pint, 8 – 18oz, or 12 – 18oz containers based on customers’ requirements and specifications.
Products from Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms can be found at most major grocery store chains, including Walmart, Sams Club, Publix and Whole Foods under various labels like American Blueberries, Alpine Fresh, Carolina Fresh and Sunbelle. The Moore Family also offers pick-up at their farm stands, which are in Burgaw and on-site at the main farm in Ivanhoe. Although the majority of their berries are used for wholesale or sold direct to consumers, they do work with a few processing facilities that use their berries to make other food products for consumers and sometimes even their pets. “Our blueberries can be found in stores across the United States and even in Canada,” Anna said. “We take a lot of pride in providing a product that is enjoyed by people across the world.” Although labor can be extremely challenging, Anna and her family wouldn’t trade anything for the pride they feel in producing blueberries and creating a legacy on their family farm each year.
Blueberries have played an important role in our state’s agriculture industry through the years and continue to be a staple today. “In North Carolina alone, blueberry farmers picked 48.5 million pounds in 2025,” Anna said. “That contributed over $87 million dollars for our state’s economy and provided countless jobs for people across the state.” Ranking seventh in the nation for blueberry production, North Carolina is a large player for the industry, and farms like Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms make that possible each year. “We are proud to have a legacy of producing high-quality blueberries in this state and will continue to do so in the years to come,” Anna said. “Our goal is to keep this farm in our family by raising the next generation and expanding production however we can.” Owners, Neil and Willie, are also dedicated to the advancement of the blueberry industry. Neil served as the North American Blueberry Council President from 2015 to 2017, and Willie is the current President of the North Carolina Blueberry Council. With seven grandchildren currently in the picture, it looks like Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms is well on their way to continuing the business motto of producing “Carolina’s Finest Blueberries”. We are so thankful for all that they do to advance the blueberry industry in our state. Be sure to look for their berries in a grocery store near you or stop by the farmstand in Ivanhoe and/or Burgaw to enjoy some today!
