North Carolina designated the strawberry (genus fragaria) as the official red berry and blueberry (genus vaccinium) as the state blue berry in 2001. Both berries are grown throughout North Carolina and consumers can pick their own berries at farms from one end of tthe state to the other.

There are only 60 calories in one cup of fresh berries and zero grams of fat. Strawberries (genus fragaria) are high in Vitamin C and A, and supply 8 percent of the recommended daily allowance for iron. One cup of blueberries supplies 50% of the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin C and 22 percent of the fiber recommended for a healthy diet.

Strawberries and blueberries are important to the agricultural economy of North Carolina. Strawberries brought in over $19 million in 2005 and blueberries over $37 million in 2005. According to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina was ranked 3rd in the nation in 2006 in strawberry production, and 5th in blueberry production.

North Carolina red and blue berries photo from USDA Agricultural Research Service Image Gallery: IllustrationS

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