What’s ripe and ready to eat right now.
Blueberries are a big deal in Southeastern North Carolina. There’s the annual blueberry festival in Burgaw, which also has a recipe contest. Some people enter every year, and some years there are ringers in any or all of the seven categories, which are as follows: appetizers, salads, entrées, side dishes, breads (biscuits, muffins, loaves, scones, etc.), desserts and miscellaneous, which includes jellies, jams, nonalcoholic beverages, sauces, pancakes, etc. There is a separate category for cooks under 15 years old. All must contain at least one cup of fresh North Carolina blueberries.
Histories tell us the first commercial crop of blueberries was planted in 1936 in Pender County. Today 2,100 acres of Pender County are planted to the fruit, the second highest behind Bladen County, which has more than 6,000 under cultivation. The crop brings $40.6 million into the state’s economy each year. Go to Edible Port City’s website to find out where to pick your own.
As shown in Audrey Pontin’s illustration above, rosé is always in season.
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Corn
- Crab
- Cucumber
- Greens, all of them
- Okra
- Peaches
- Peppers
- Rosé
- Shrimp
- Snap peas
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
This story appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of the magazine.
