SEE OUR MOST RECENT GUIDE TO BERRY PICKING IN NEW JERSEY AND THE NYC AREA
Looking for a great family outing before summer winds down? Check out our comprehensive 2010-11 guide to farms that offer pick-your-own berries in the New Jersey area, near New York City.
*with additional research by Melanie Baker, Perry Martin, Corey Moser, Nicole Schreiber, and Sarah Wormser
Plump, ripe berries are making their way onto produce shelves right about now, but what could be sweeter than watching your kids scour a local sundrenched farm field for their own basket of fruit? Well, joining in the fun yourself! Stock up on the season's juicy raspberries, blueberries and peaches – picking your own is a great way for the family to pass a lazy afternoon and save a little money on your grocery bill – then head home and bake some fruit-filled goodies with your kids' help (peach pie or blueberry muffins, anyone?).
When you head to one of the farms below, keep in mind that all dates are projected, and produce availability is subject to change. Calling ahead before visiting any of these locations is highly recommended.
NEW JERSEY
Alstede Farms
84 Route 513 (Old Route 24), Chester
908-879-7189; www.alstedefarms.com
Pick-your-own red and yellow raspberries from mid-August through October and peaches through mid-September. Corn maze with giant hay pyramid, animals for petting, hayrides, pony rides, homemade ice cream, and farm market. Open 9am-7pm daily.
Battleview Orchards
91 Wemrock Road, Freehold
732-462-0756; www.battlevieworchards.com
Pick-your-own straw peaches through the beginning of September and nectarines through the end of August. Pre-picked corn for sale. Country store and a bakery on-site with fresh local produce. Open 9am-6pm daily.
Califon Farm Stand & Orchard
472 Route 513, Califon
908-832-2905; www.melickstownfarm.com
Pick-your-own yellow and white peaches through September; open 9am-6pm daily. On-site store with fresh produce, ice cream and baked goods.
Conte Farms
299 Flyatt Road, Tabernacle
609-268-1010; contefarms@verizon.net
Pick-your-own blueberries and peaches through mid-August. Also offers pre-picked produce, bake shop and soft ice cream. Open 8am-6pm daily, through Thanksgiving.
Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
201-666-0472; www.demarestfarms.com
Pick-your-own peaches. Farm market with seasonal fruits and vegetables. Open 8am-7pm daily (on weekdays, 9am-3pm by reservation only).
DeWolf's Farm
58 West Colliers Mill Road, New Egypt
609-758-6288; www.dewolfsyoupickfarm.com
Pick-your-own blackberries. Pick-your-own vegetables in August. Open 7am-7pm daily.
Earth Friendly Organic Farm and Bed & Breakfast
17 Olde Noah Hunt Road, Clarksburg
609-259-9744; www.earthfriendlyorganicfarm.com
Pick-your-own blueberries, 9am-5pm daily (call for availability).
Emery's Organic Blueberry Farm
346 Long Swamp Road, New Egypt
609-758-8514; www.netpie.com
Tractor ride to pick-your-own blueberries through early August; fields open 9am-4pm daily. Farm market open 9am-6pm daily.
Fred + III
Odd Fellows Road (Route 663), Pemberton
609-784 4839 or 609-894 2198; www.fredplusthree.com; fdetrick1@verizon.net
Pick-your-own blueberries, 8am-4pm daily.
Fruitwood Farms
419 Elk Road (Route 538), Monroeville
856-881-7748
Pick-your-own peaches through August. Open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 8am-3pm. On-site store with honey and fresh produce, open Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm.
Hillview Farms
223 Meyersville Road, Gillette
908-647-0957; www.hillviewfarmsnj.com
Pick-your-own blueberries and peaches through August. Open 10am-5pm daily in the summer. On-site farm store with local honey and free-range eggs.
Jackson Mill Farm
304 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold
www.jacksonmillfarm.com; jmfarm@gmail.com
Pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries; also pick-your-own Oriental vegetables such as Luffa gourds, Chinese cucumbers and water spinach.
Johnson's Corner Farm
133 Church Road, Medford
609-654-8643; www.johnsonsfarm.com
Pick-your-own blueberries through mid-August, pick-your-own peaches through the end of August. Hayrides offered Monday-Friday 10am-1pm; weekends 10am-4pm; Wednesday and Friday evenings from 5-7pm. Farm market, bakery and produce hours are 8am-7pm; ice cream window open till 9pm. Wednesday night is Family Fun Night from 5-8pm; Friday nights the farm hosts a BBQ Family Fun Night, which features a flea market in the parking area.
Lee Turkey Farm
201 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor
609-448-0629; www.leeturkeyfarm.com
Pick-your-own raspberries, peaches, nectarines, apples and pears; open Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm. On-site market with sweet corn and homemade pies for sale. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm.
Melick's Town Farm
19 King St, Oldwick
Farmers market: 170 Oldwick Road
908-439-2318
Pick-your-own strawberries. Open 10am-6pm.
Mood's Farm Market
901 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill
856-478-2500; www.moodsfarmmarket.com
Pick-your-own blueberries, blackberries, sweet and pie cherries; bring your own container; open 8am-7pm daily, closed Sundays. Store on premises with freshly baked donuts and a jelly-making room.
Peaceful Valley Orchards
150 Pittstown Road, Pittstown
908-730-7748 or 908-713-1705; www.peacefulvalleyorchards.com
Pick-your-own strawberries, call for availability. Pick-your-own blueberries, raspberries, blackberries through early November. On-site store with food and refreshments, fresh produce, organic and hormone-free meats and snacks. Petting zoo and tours of the 150-acre farm are available. Open 9am-6:30pm daily.
Phillips Farms
290 Church Road, Milford
908-995-0022; www.phillipsfarms.com
Pick-your-own raspberries, sour cherries and sweet cherries (call for availability). Farmstand with a variety of fresh produce. Open 8am-6pm daily (U-Pick closed on Tuesdays).
Race Farm LLC
87 Belcher Road, Blairstown
908-362-8151; www.racefarmllc.com
Pick-your-own raspberries and a variety of veggies through September. Small market (open through Oct. 31), bakery (fresh-baked goods on weekends), and cider mill on premises. Open 9am-5pm daily.
River Side Homestead Farm
Taylors Lane (at Delaware River), Cinnaminson
856-829-4992
Pick-your-own blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and a variety of veggies. Open 9am-6pm daily, closed Sundays. Includes a 100-acre wildlife preserve and nature trail through wetlands and woods.
Schaefer Farms
1051 Flemington/Whitehouse Road (also known as County Route 523), Fleming
908-782-2705; www.schaeferfarms.com
Pick-your-own red raspberries through August. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm. Farm Stand with homegrown sweet corn and a variety of vegetables.
Strawberry Hill Farm
Corner of Waln and Ellisdale Road, Chesterfield
609-298-0823; www.strawberryhillfarm.org
Pick-your-own peaches; call for hours.
Stults Farm
62 John White Road, Cranbury
609-799-2523; www.stultsfarm.com
Pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries; bring your own container. Open Monday-Friday 3-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-1pm. Farmstand with a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Sussex County Strawberry Farm
Route 206, Andover
973-579-5055; www.sussexcountystrawberryfarm.com
Pick your own raspberries in September and October. Open Monday-Friday 7am-6pm, Saturday 7am-3pm, and Sunday 7am-3pm. Also has a greenhouse with flower picking.
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton
609-924-2310; www.terhuneorchards.com
Pick-your-own blueberries and blackberries. Open 9am-5pm daily. On-site store with pre-picked produce and baked goods; weekend festivals beginning in September.
The Allen Family Farm
26 Tarkiln Road, Belleplain
609-861-3778; www.come-over.to/TheAllenFamilyFarm
Pick-your-own blueberries; open daily from sunup to sundown. Also have pick-your-own tomatoes (call for availability).
Valley Crest Farm
14 Allerton Road, Lebanon
908-238-9696
Pick-your-own blackberries and raspberries through August, peaches through September. Open 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday. On-site stand with pre-picked vegetables.
Valley View Farms
290 Route 206 South, Newton
973-579-7271
Pick-your-own raspberries through August. Also offers pick-your-own vegetables. Open 10am-6pm daily.
Von Thun's Country Farm Market
519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction
732-329-8656; www.vonthunfarms.com
Pick-your-own raspberries and blackberries. Open 9am-6pm daily. On-site market with pre-picked vegetables and plants.
Also see our comprehensive 2010-11 Guide to Pick Your Own Berry Farms in NY, NJ, and CT.
