10 Spots to Go Berry Picking in New York and New Jersey
Berry farms provide an excellent experience for families with children of all ages, as pick-your-own activities encourage the entire family to have fun in the outdoors and to eat healthier by adding more fruit to its diet. Many farms located near NYC offer a multitude of other experiences such as hayrides, pony rides, and festivals in addition to U-pick. For the best experience possible, families need to check the farms’ websites for updates on COVID-19 precautions before planning their visit.
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Garden of Eve Farm
4558 Sound Ave., Riverhead
631-722-8777
This organic farm is dedicated to providing delicious organic vegetables and fruits. It’s one of the only certified organic U-pick fields on Long Island and it offers other fun activities too! U-pick fruits and veggies are subject to availability (call ahead to confirm what’s available). Strawberries are available through the end of June, blueberries are available beginning in late June, and blackberries are available starting mid-July. Admission includes unlimited access to U-pick organic field and the Family Fun Fields, which include unlimited hayrides (Saturday-Sunday, 11am-4pm), pedal karts, hay tower, farm animals, spider web, live music, and more.
Glover Farms
641-681 Victory Ave, Brookhaven, NY 11719
10 am-5:30 pm daily
631-286-7876
Located within an hour’s drive from NYC, Glover Farms is one of the first U-pick strawberry farms on Long Island. Fresh, ripe strawberries are currently in abundance and will be followed by pumpkins in the fall. Families are advised to call the farm before planning their visit, as field conditions vary day by day.
Lewin Farms
812 Sound Ave, Calverton, NY 11933
9 am-5 pm, closed on Tuesday
(631)-929-4327
Strawberries are currently in season at Lewin, which was the first farm to have offered the pick-your-own experience on Long Island. A greater variety of fruits and vegetables will be available in the U-Pick fields further into the summer season, including raspberries, blueberries, and peaches. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, apples, pumpkins, and gourds will be available through the beginning of fall into October. The farm suggests that visitors call to confirm the daily schedule before planning their visit.
Patty’s Berries And Bunches
410 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952
9 am-5:30 pm daily
631-655-7996
This month, visitors can pick strawberries and sugar snap peas at Patty’s, a female-owned berry farm on Long Island. The pick-your-own experience for other berry varieties will open later this summer, but exclusive ice cream from the Ice Cream Patch and a stroll through the flower fields are always available.
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
28700 Main Rd, Cutchogue, NY 11935
9 am-5 pm Monday to Saturday, U-pick hours 10 am-3 pm
631-734-6441
Wickham’s, a bicentennial fruit farm, takes pride in its beautiful waterfront and long history. The farm will be opening its strawberry field to visitors starting this Saturday. Delicious cherries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and peaches will be available from July and into August, apples from September to October, and pumpkins later in the fall season. Baked goods, pies and preserves, cheeses, and fruit gift boxes are sold at its farm stand.
Alstede Farms
1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ 07930
9 am-6 pm daily
908-258-6245
Demarest Farms
244 Wiermus Rd, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
Times vary depending on the season
201-666-0472
In 40 minutes from Manhattan, Demarest Farms has served its locals with fresh produce, baked goods, and family fun since 1886. In the summer season, you can pick your own peaches, attend a movie night, meet farm animals at the petting zoo, and grab baked goods and salads at the farm store.
Fishkill Farms
9 Fishkill Farm Rd, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Pick-Your-Own: Tues-Sat 9 am–4:45 pm Tuesday to Saturday; Sunday by reservations only (when in season)
(845)897-4377
Peas and strawberries are currently in season at Fishkill Farms, which strives to encourage healthy eating and outdoor fun for families. Apple and pumpkin fields, too, will be open for U-pick in the fall. The farm store has reopened, and visitors can shop for fresh produce and baked goods. Families can also grab lunch at the Fishkill Farms outdoor grill, which cooks burger varieties, hotdogs, and more. Reservations are required within a week before the visit in order for the farm to prepare the best experience possible.
Lawrence Farms Orchards
306 Frozen Ridge Rd, Newburgh, NY12550
9 am-4 pm daily
845-562-4268
Located only about an hour and a half away from New York City, Lawrence Farms Orchards grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, all available for the pick-your-own experience from June to October. Strawberries, peas, lettuce, spinach, and rhubarb (all in season) are only a few among the diverse products that the farm offers. Later in the summer season come apricots, peaches, plums, currants, gooseberries, pears, grapes, sweet corn, and more. The farm also offers a birthday party service for children at its “Little Village” playground area.
Ochs Orchard
4 Ochs Ln, Warwick, NY 10990
9 am – 5:30 pm Monday to Friday; 9 am – 5 pm Saturday to Sunday
(845) 986-1591
While its distance requires a longer drive from NYC than the others, Ochs offers a stellar experience for families. The orchard is home to exquisite scenery and 100 acres of land overlooking Warwick Valley. The farm market sells pure maple syrup, butter, sweet preserves, fresh local eggs, cider, and more. Calling in advance to your visit is strongly recommended, as weather and COVID-19 precautions may shift the U-pick schedule.
Patty’s Berries and Bunches
410 Sound Ave., Mattituck
631-655-7996
This farm offers a variety of seasonal U-Pick fruit options starting in June with strawberries, then raspberries and blueberries in July, and blackberries in August. Call before visiting to find out availability. There are a number of beautiful flower bunches you can purchase as well. Be sure to stop at The Ice Cream Patch, the farm’s ice cream stand, and indulge in seasonal ice cream made from the farm’s own fruits. You can also enjoy other family-friendly activities, such as walking the flower fields, seeing sculptures and other works of art across the farm, enjoying live music, or participating in a variety of classes.
New Jersey
Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ
908-879-7189
Pick-your-own strawberries are in season through June, while blueberries and raspberries are in season at the end June through July, and blackberries will be available mid-August. Plus, there are lots of activities to keep your children happy, such as pony rides and a seasonal maze (the evergreen maze is open now, while the corn and sunflower mazes will open later in the summer). This is an easy farm to visit from the city if you don’t have a car: You can take New Jersey Transit to the Gladstone Station and arrange for a FREE shuttle service. As a result of COVID, you now must pre-purchase a PYO ticket for a specific time slot online. Each guest that enters the fields has to have a ticket with them that includes an entry fee, a container, the value of fruit associated with filling the container, and wagon rides to and from the fields. Before you leave, make sure you try some homemade ice cream from the stand made with the farm’s own freshly picked fruits. Check Alstede Farm’s harvest schedule to figure out the best time to pick the fruit you want. If you like the farm, be sure to check it out again in the fall for apples and pumpkin picking.
Hillview Farms
223 Meyersville Rd Gillette, NJ 07933
9 am-6 pm daily
(908) 647-0957
Blueberries are currently ripening at Hillview Farms, located in Gillette, NJ. Come August, visitors can pick sweet peaches followed by apples and pumpkins in the fall. The farm market, which sells fresh produce, preserves, and baked goods, is open daily. For 150 years, the farm has worked to grow healthy, honest food for its locals.
Johnson’s Corner Farm
133 Church Road, Medford, NJ
609-654-8643
“Planting Seeds, Harvesting Memories.” With a cute motto like that, how can you resist checking it out? Johnson’s Corner Farm has seasonal fruit picking, such as strawberries from mid-May to mid-June (estimated dates), along with cherries, blueberries, snap peas, string beans, and radishes in other seasons. Visitors are advised to check out the farm’s Facebook page to find out what’s currently available. Plus, kids will enjoy the hayrides, ice cream and other family fun activities (at an additional cost) such as the Discovery Barnyard and Animal Farm, which includes a fun splash pad for children and the opportunity to feed some farm animals.
Lee Turkey Farm
201 Hickory Corner Rd, East Windsor, NJ 08520
609-448-0629
Sussex County Strawberry Farm
565 Rt 206 North Andover, NJ 07821
9 am – 6 pm daily
(973)579-5055
It is strawberry season at Sussex County Strawberry Farm! The farm is known for growing the most delicious strawberries in all of Sussex County, which guarantees to make up for the lengthy car ride. Visitors can taste the sweet strawberries while picking them, and also browse the farm’s Garden Center, which sells over 20 plant varieties. Raspberries will be in availability by late August, followed by pumpkins come October.
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Rd., Princeton, NJ 08540
9 am-6 pm daily
609-924-2310
Cherries, blueberries, and blackberries are currently available for U-pick at Terhune Orchards. The bakery and farm store are also open for visitors, and families can pick up beautiful flowers for their home gardens. Visitors can see the farm animals, stroll through the farm trail. Terhune Orchards offers an optimal experience for every member of the family; there are tractors for the kids and the winery for parents. It is essential to call before your visit, as the farm’s schedule revolves around weather patterns.
Von Thun’s Country Farm Market
519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ
732-329-8656
438 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ
732-986-6816
Von Thun’s has two farms in NJ, each with “u-pick” activities and on-site farm markets that sell its delicious varieties of produce. During the summer months, the South Brunswick location lets you pick strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, while the Washington location offers strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and peaches. It also hosts Strawberry Festivals and Fall Festivals. The farm suggests always calling for current availability before heading out.
Additional reporting by Alison Leighton
