South Carolina Strawberry Farms Overcome Weather Challenges

Freezing temperatures and rising costs impact start of strawberry season, but farms focus on providing family experiences.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:18am

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Strawberry picking season is underway in South Carolina, but the start was originally delayed by five days due to freezing temperatures that came this winter and rising costs. Farmers like Hunter Bulloch of Cottle Strawberry Farm say the cold weather set the plants back and reduced yields, while higher fuel and fertilizer prices are cutting into profits. However, the farms are focused on providing a positive experience for visitors beyond just selling strawberries.

Why it matters

Strawberry farms are an important part of South Carolina's agricultural economy and a beloved tradition for many families. The challenges they face from extreme weather and rising costs highlight the difficulties small, independent farms can encounter, even during peak seasons.

The details

Cottle Strawberry Farm delayed its opening to the public by almost a week due to the freezing temperatures in January, which Bulloch said did some damage to the plants. The farm is now just getting back to average yields, but Bulloch said losing those extra 5-7 days makes a big difference. Rising fuel and fertilizer costs have also been an issue, with Bulloch saying he's trying to avoid passing those increases on to customers.

  • Strawberry picking season began in early April 2026 in South Carolina.
  • Cottle Strawberry Farm delayed its opening by almost a week due to freezing temperatures in January 2026.

The players

Hunter Bulloch

The co-owner of Cottle Strawberry Farm in South Carolina.

Tori Blevins

A visitor to Gurosik's Berry Plantation in South Carolina who appreciates the family-friendly experience the farms provide.

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What they’re saying

“For us we just saw that it was much lighter than last year, and so, we're working with fewer days which is difficult for us because if we only have 70 or 75 days to harvest our crop and we lose 5 of those days of the season, you know, that's a decent amount, so it can make all of the difference.”

— Hunter Bulloch, Co-owner, Cottle Strawberry Farm

“It's just about giving back to the community, like, taking the dollars that we get and putting them back into the community and supporting local businesses and farmers, it's really important, if we don't do that, then they'll disappear, they'll go away.”

— Tori Blevins

What’s next

Farmers will continue to monitor weather conditions and work to manage rising costs as they move through the rest of the strawberry season.

The takeaway

Despite the challenges of extreme weather and inflation, South Carolina's strawberry farms remain committed to providing a positive, family-friendly experience that supports the local community. Their resilience highlights the importance of preserving small, independent agricultural operations.