Just off the 101 and 2 miles from our marina in Beaufort, North Carolina, sits Joe Merrell, proprietor of the county’s oldest active century farm in Carteret county. Since 1734 Merrell farms have been providing the county with fresh produce and are farming 20 acres of strawberries, beets, collard greens, fresh spring onions, and so much more still today.
If you find yourself on the hard at Bock Marine in Beaufort, Merrell Farm is only 2 miles down the 101 on the way to Beaufort and Morehead City. Stop by, pull up a stool, and have a chat with Joe and the loyal customers stopping by for fabulous fresh produce. Joe is always happy to chat and is filled with local knowledge and stories.
If you are on one of the waterways listed below, you will find Joe on Saturday mornings at the Beaufort Farmers market, open 9:00-1:00 Saturday mornings, mid-April thru Mid-November. Being the busiest Vender at the farmers market, Jim will not have time to chat but always remembers returning customers with a warm hello and maybe even a joke. So be sure and stop by for Farm to Galley goodness and tell him Gari sent you.
Below is a list of anchorages and information on Beaufort’s free dingy dock.
https://www.waterwayguide.com/free-dock/8-189/topsail-park-free-dock
https://www.waterwayguide.com/anchorage/2-318/beaufort-taylor-creek
https://www.waterwayguide.com/anchorage/2-317/beaufort-town-creek
https://www.waterwayguide.com/anchorage/2-3196/morehead-city-sugar-loaf-island-south
Early April until the end of May, it’s strawberry season, and they are picked fresh daily and not something you want to miss if you are in the area.
If you are in Beaufort and dine out, you will most definitely eat produce from the Merrell farm, and if you make your way to the Piggly Wiggly, they always have Jim’s crop’s stocked.
If it’s collard greens your looking for to ring in the new year, strawberries in the spring, or fresh-picked corn, Jim and his crew will be sure to look out for you, but no matter where you are, always try and support our farmers who work hard to keep food on our plates.
