North Carolina State Red Berry

Strawberry

(Genus Fragaria)

Adopted in 2001.

In 2001, the General Assembly named the strawberry, Genus Fragaria, as the official Red Berry of North Carolina, and named the blueberry as the official Blue Berry of the state (Session laws, 2001, c. 488).

North Carolina Legislature Archives
§ 145-18. State fruit and State berries.
(a)The official fruit of the State of North Carolina is the Scuppernong grape (Vitis genus).
(b) The official red berry of the State is the strawberry (Fragaria genus).
(c) The official blue berry of the State is the blueberry (Vaccinium genus). (2001-488, s. 1.)

Strawberries (genus fragaria) are high in Vitamin C and A, and supply 8% of the RDA for Iron. There are only 60 calories in a cup of fresh berries and zero grams of fat. A cup of blueberries (genus vaccinium) supplies 50% of the RDA for Vitamin C, as well as 22% of the fiber recommended for a healthy diet.

The session law itself explains how important these two berries are to the agricultural economy of the state. In the year 2000, strawberries brought in over $17,000,000, while the blueberry created over $18,000,000 in revenues. According to the 1997 Census of Agriculture, North Carolina was ranked 8^th in the nation for strawberries harvested, and ranked behind only 4 states in the production of blueberries.

Both berries are grown throughout the state, and consumers can pick their own berries at farms from one end of the North Carolina to the other.