With summer on its way, now is a great time to get out and enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables of the Garden State.  You can’t get any fresher or more local than picking your own fruits and vegetables and we’ve compiled a great list of place where you can go picking.   And picking with your family and friends is a very enjoyable experience – a great ‘staycation’ activity or daytrip outing — it is a really fun activity to do with all ages with a healthy bonus at the end!  Check out our list to find a farm near you.  

Demarest Farm

244 Werimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-0472; demarestfarm@demarestfarms.com  

Peach picking hayrides late July thru August Apple picking hayrides run thru September Pumpkin picking hayrides run late September thru Halloween; Country Fair first weekend in November Games and rides for kids. Farm market offers from scratch salad bar, bakery, deli, ice cream shoppe, and lots of other goodies like fresh cider and donuts.

Snyder's Farm

586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset NJ 08873
732.496.0441; info@snyders-farm.com

Snyder's Farm is on 80 acres of mostly Preserved Farm Land. They have over 2,800 blueberry bushes in their fields that are opened up to the public this June for their "Pick Your Own".  "Pick Your Own" strawberries have been added for the 2015 season.  They also sell seasonal produce which changes from year to year but the staples will always be Jersey tomatoes and sweet white corn that are picked daily. If you love the fall, being outdoors and spending time with your family and friends then you have to come to the Fall Festival. 

Heaven Hill Farm

451 State Route 94, Vernon, New Jersey 07462
973-764-5144; stacey@heavenhillfarm.com

In the Spring their greenhouses are flowering with handmade hanging baskets and beautiful colors and blooms. In the summer they are growing fun memories at "Action Fun Farm" with farm animals, peddle carts, Great Adventure Corn Maze and 30 fun farm activities. Fall brings in the Largest "Great Pumpkin Festival" in New Jersey. Pumpkin picking is really big here. Hay-Rides to the pumpkin patch to pick the most perfect pumpkin. Carnival Rides, Pig Races, Pony Rides, Gem Mining and lots more Farm Fun memories!

Longmeadow Farm

561 Blairstown Road (Rte 521),Hope, New Jersey 07844
908 459 5351; bradphylburke@embarqmail.com

Longmeadow Farm is famous for its Pick Your Own apples, offering 15 varieties ripening from the first week in September to the last week in October, red, yellow, green and orange. They have apple varieties to suit your every need, dessert quality for eating fresh, for healthy snacks or for packing in the lunch box; baking varieties for pies, cakes, crisps and strudels, and sauce. Pumpkin picking generally starts at the end of September with a hayride through spook hollow that leads you to the pumpkin patch. Acres and acres of pumpkins to choose from.  Fall raspberries are ripe and ready for picking from early August through early October.

Windy Brow Farms

359 Ridge Road, Newton, New Jersey 07860
73-579-9657; windybrowfarms@gmail.com

Throughout the season, Windy Brow Farms grows farm fresh vegetables, season fruit, including over 14 varieties of peaches, 35 varieties of apples, 6 varieties of plums, as well as apricots, cherries, pears, and blueberries.

Riamede Farm

122 Oakdale Road, Chester, New Jersey 07930
908-879-5353

Pick your own apples and pumpkins at their 250 year old farm with its antique apple trees, rolling hill scenery and 19th century ambiance. Thirty-four apple varieties are found in their olde time orchard ranging from traditional favorites, unusual heirlooms and today's modern varieties. Free hayrides on weekends through the orchards out to the Pumpkin Patch. Simple, authentic and without the carnival. Fresh cider, jams, warm donuts, pies, local honey & more.

Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ 07930
(908) 879-7189

They produce over 250 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, all sustainably grown and whether it’s sweet or savory.   From Strawberries, Blueberries and Raspberries, to Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Corn, Peaches, Apples, Pumpkins and more…there is something for every taste bud! They even have Cut Your Own Flowers!

Middle Valley Farms

304-B Pleasant Valley Rd, Mendham, New Jersey 07945
973 543 7789; imafarmer22@gmail.com

In the fall they offer hay wagon rides, a 6 acre corn maze for a wide range of age groups, free mini hay maze for small kids, animals you can pet and feed, a hay pyramid, a hay tunnel, pick your own pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. They also have some baked goods and flowers for sale.

Valley Crest Farm & Nature Preserve

14 Allerton Rd. Lebanon, New Jersey 08833
908-296-6084; info@valleycrestfarmnj.org

Valley Crest Farm & Nature Preserve is a non-profit farm nestled in the heart of Hunterdon County near the Round Valley Reservoir.  They grow healthy fruits and vegetables to sell at a farm stand and donate weekly to local food banks.  Check out their Pick-Your-Own schedule to find out when apples, peaches, and berries are available for picking.

Giamarese Farm

155 Fresh Pond Road, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816
732-821-9494; giamaresefarm@gmail.com

Available by season: Strawberries, Sugar Snap & English Peas, Peaches, Apples, Pumpkins & Greens (call for availability)

Von Thun’s Country Farm Market

19 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
732.329.8656

There is so much to do at their farm, from U Pick Apple, Pumpkin & Strawberry Picking to the corn maze, pumpkin patch and hayrides! Bring your family for an unforgettable day of fun and food.

Delicious Orchards

Route 34 South, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
732.462.1989

Delicious Orchards Pick your own is growing every year! This year they have planted almost a thousand new red raspberries including Caroline and Prelude Varieties. They also planted over 200 new Arapaho Blackberries! Black Raspberries picking season: Mid to Late June; Blackberry Picking season: Late July thru August

Bullock Farms

83 Emleys Hill Rd, Cream Ridge, New Jersey 08514
609-758-8726; brett@bullockfarms.com

Bullock Farms is a 100 acre family farm located in Central NJ. Their pumpkin market will be open daily from early September through Halloween. Also available daily is their kids straw bale maze, Corn maze, and Sunflower Field. Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins and hayrides will be available on weekends. The hayride will take your around a tour of the farm to the pumpkin patch, and back again.

Specca Farms

870 Jacksonville-Mt. Holly Road, Springfield, New Jersey 08505
609-267-4445; lspecca@comcast.net

Pick your own farm with strawberries, kale, other leafy greens and beans including broccoli raab, spinach, flat green beans, cranberry beans, string beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, dandilion, beets, swiss chard, collards, turnip tops and mustard greens, lettuce.

Johnson Corner Farm

133 Church Rd. Medford, NJ 08055
609.654.8643

They strive to provide the highest quality sweet corn, Jersey produce, pies, baked goods and farm experience for your family or group. They are known for our Hayrides to pick your own pumpkins, apples, strawberries, blueberries, peaches and sweet corn.

Beach View Farms

178 Beachview Ave, Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
609-661-2240; beachviewfarms@gmail.com

Beach View Farms is a pick your own farm offering a wide selection of vegetables, cut your own flowers, and small fruits. They have a fall festival running the entire month of October featuring pick your own pumpkins, fall vegetables and children's activities.  Everything grown at Beach View Farms is certified naturally grown, and meets their organic standards, so you don't have to worry about harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.

Stiles Farm & Nursery

172 Route 47 S, Cape May Court House, New Jersey 08210
609-463-9680; mpsljs@yahoo.com

U-Pick Blueberries, Blackberries, Apples, Peaches, Pears, Beach plums

What’s in Season? (Courtesy of www.visitnjfarms.org)

April – May: Strawberries, Arugula, Asparagus, Dandelion Greens, Spinach

June – August: Blueberries, Cherries, Apples, Peaches & Nectarines, Plums, Peas, Beans, Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Sweet Corn, Peas, Peppers

September – November: Apples, Cranberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Spinach, Turnips, Pumpkins, Peppers