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 a crop that brings people to farms across our state each year. Ranking seventh in the nation for blueberry production, North Carolina is home to many farms offering fresh picked blueberries as well as pick-your-own experiences. Lively Grove Farms in Bolivia is entering their fifth year of offering pick-your-own berries, as well as educational agritourism events to teach the public how important the crop is to our state. From its origins to where it stands today, the farm strongly supports the community through fresh products, meaningful farm outings, and more each year!
Growing up, both Jeremy and Kelsey Smith, owners of Lively Grove Farms, were immersed in agriculture through family farm operations. “Our farming roots go back generations, and I’ve always had a love for farm life,” Kelsey said. “Jeremy grew up farming tobacco with his family, and my family raised cattle, wheat, corn and soybeans. Ever since Jeremy and I met, owning and operating our own farm had been a pipe dream that we never fully believed would come true.” With the help of her father-in-law Fred, Jeremy and Kelsey bought the land that is now Lively Grove Farms in 2018 and opened to the public in 2021. “It will always be a favorite memory of mine receiving a phone call from Jeremy while deployed with the Air Force Reserves, telling me he and Fred had found the perfect land for the farm,” Kelsey said. “It was a leap of faith then and continues to be a dream come true today.” Lively Grove Farms truly is a family operation with Kelsey, Jeremy, their two kids Raelynn and Weber, father-in-law Fred, and mother-in-law Shelley all helping to build the dream.
Today, Lively Grove Farms is home to nearly twenty acres of farmland in Brunswick County, with three of those acres dedicated to their flagship product — blueberries. In addition, they also grow blackberries, strawberries, Champanel grapes, peaches, vegetables, flowers and herbs. The farm grows 13 varieties of blueberries across two types: Rabbiteye varieties such as Climax, Premier, and Powderblue, and Southern Highbush varieties including Legacy, New Hanover, and Misty. “All of these varieties look and taste slightly different from one another and work beautifully in everything from jams and jellies to pies and pancakes,” Kelsey said. “But honestly, all of them are delicious straight off the bush.” Due to the range of varieties, Lively Grove Farms typically has blueberries available from late May through early August each year.
On a small family farm, most of the work is done by hand, and Lively Grove is no different. “Blueberries are a long-term investment, especially on the front end,” Kelsey said. “It takes two to three years for the blueberry plants to yield a meaningful harvest, so patience is essential.” In Brunswick County, the sandy, naturally acidic soils are well suited for blueberries, which thrive in exactly those conditions. Once the blueberries are ready, the farm opens to the community to come and pick their own. “We are all about the full farm experience here at Lively Grove,” Kelsey said. “We want people to come out, enjoy the farm, see what we are all about, and make lasting memories together.” After the season wraps, the team allows the leaves to drop and then prunes the bushes to encourage healthy growth for the following year. “We strive to protect and enhance the land, not fight it,” she said. “We follow regenerative farming practices and don’t use any chemical sprays. We are passionate about providing the best for our customers whether they come from one minute away or one hour away.”
Not only does Lively Grove Farm offer pick-your-own produce each year, but also educational events and guided tours for gardening clubs, school groups, daycares and more. “Agriculture education is a top priority for us, not only to educate the community about where their food comes from, but to inspire the next generation of farmers and agricultural workers,” Kelsey said. “Seeing people’s eyes light up as they try a fresh blueberry off the bush and realize it doesn’t come from a plastic container, that is truly why we do what we do.” Although growing blueberries comes with its challenges, Kelsey and her family wouldn’t trade the life they have built. “It’s a joy and an honor to be part of an industry that feeds the world,” she said. “Even through the difficult days, we are grateful for this dream coming true and for the opportunity to make a positive impact on our community.”
Our state is one of the top blueberry producing states in the nation, and that’s not by accident. “Blueberries support agriculture and agritourism in a way few crops can, they give people a reason to show up to a farm, often for the very first time,” Kelsey said. “We are growing the next generation of agriculturally aware citizens, one u-pick visit at a time. At Lively Grove Farms, we are proud to be part of that and look forward to seeing it continue to grow.” Before heading out to any farm, including Lively Grove Farms, be sure to check their website and social media pages to confirm hours and crop availability.
