Cottle Farms

Nestled in the heart of eastern North Carolina, the Cottle family has grown, packed, shipped, imported, and distributed quality fruits and vegetables for over 50 years.

In 1964, Ned A. Cottle, a 3rd generation farmer of berries, planted his first field of Strawberries, after taking the advice from his father-in-law, David J. Price, Sr., in Faison, N.C. Mr. Cottle saw a demand for “U-Pick” strawberries, and decided to increase his production for both the retailers as well as the need for a direct to consumer production...

For this expansion, he began growing two acres of strawberries at a Goldsboro, N.C. location, which was his first "U-pick" farm. The market for "U-pick" berries gradually increased as did Mr. Cottle's desire to meet that need. He also noticed the reduced risk in "U-pick" farms than in growing berries to be sold commercially because California was rapidly taking over the commercial sales of strawberries.

Ned’s son, Ron, a 4th generation farmer, grew up helping his father on the farms. In 1987, Ron graduated from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., and came back home to develop his talents as a grower and to get into the nursery business, which is today’s Cottle Strawberry Nursery, Inc., est. in 1991.

Featured Farmer

"What's the most rewarding part? Well, I have a son and farming is a lot like raising a child. From year to year you get to bring it up and see if you can help it succeed, from seed to plant to harvest to off the truck. We do the whole shebang and it's rewarding to make that happen."