Summer is here, and there’s nothing sweeter than spending it picking summer fruits with your friends and family in New Jersey. It’s a great way to enjoy the weather and see New Jersey’s beautiful (and often old) farms. Of course, having freshly picked Jersey peaches, sour cherries, raspberries, and other fruits on hand is a great excuse to bake fruit pies all season long. Read on to learn all about the U-Pick summer fruit farms worth visiting in New Jersey and beyond.
Pro-tip: Because fruit is seasonal and dependent on the weather, please check each farm’s website or Facebook page before visiting. Some farms also require cash only for purchases, so be prepared.
Battleview Orchards | 91 Wemrock Road, Freehold
(Photo credit: @bvorchards)
From strawberries to nectarines, Battleview Orchards offers a great variety of summer fruits to pick. It’s open 9AM to 6PM every day but Tuesday, when it’s closed. Its Facebook page is a great resource to see which produce is ripe for the picking. Sour cherry season (usually June and July) is a highlight for the farm, and bakers love this kind of fruit for delicious recipes.
Demarest Farms | 244 Werimus Road, Hillsdale
(Photo credit: @demarestfarms)
We all know how magical and memorable Jersey peaches are when in season. Demarest Farm is the place to go to pick your own juicy fruit — including amazing Jersey peaches. The season runs through July and August — we recommend gathering enough for some peach jam. Reservations are required, so be sure to book a timeslot here.
Read More: The History of the Biggest U-Pick Tulip Farm — Right Here in New Jersey
Eastmont Orchards | 181 County Road 537, Colts Neck
(Photo credit: @eastmontorchards)
It’s peach season at Eastmont Orchards (almost) all summer long. From July to September, you’ll have your pick of 15 different peach varieties. You can follow the farm’s Facebook page to find out when it officially opens, — it typically begins the season in mid-July. The farm will be open on weekdays from 9AM to 5PM and weekends from 9AM to 6PM.
Farms View Roadstand | 945 Black Oak Ridge Road, Wayne
(Photo credit: @farmsviewroadstand)
This family-owned farm is a farmers market and garden center that offers strawberry picking for the season. The farm grows over sixty different fruits and vegetables, sells everything you need for your garden, and even has baked goods and preserves. Go for the strawberries but come home with a great farm experience — and maybe some extra plants. The farm is open 9AM to 6PM Monday to Saturday and 9AM to 5PM on Sunday.
Happy Day Farm | 106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan Township
(Photo credit: @happydayfarmnj)
This delightfully named farm is relatively new to Manalapan Township. Established in 2012, the family-owned property offers pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries. It’s also known for its scenic lavender field and sunflower picking. Just keep in mind that farm purchases are cash only. It opens back up on June 11th for both lavender viewing and raspberry picking. Blueberry picking will open in late June.
Melick Orchards | 19 King Street, Oldwick
Melick farm is open every day with fresh fruits and vegetables all summer long. Around for almost 300 years — yes, you read that right — , the Melick family has become the largest apple grower in NJ with more than 650 acres. We recommend reserving tickets for the strawberry U-Pick before visiting to ensure a spot and be sure to get ready for peach season in July. Reservations are posted the night before the next day’s picking, and you can reserve a spot here.
Ochs Orchard | 4 Ochs Lane, Warwick, NY
(Photo credit: @ochsorchard)
Ochs Orchard, a NY state family farm, literally has it all. From June through November, you can pick anything that is in season. It has U-Pick strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, apples, tomatoes, and other kinds of vegetables. Though it may be a trek, it’s worth the trip for fresh produce all summer long. The farm is open every day from 9AM to 5PM.
Ort Farms | 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
(Photo credit: @ort_farms)
The Ort family at Ort Farms has grown in Long Valley for over one hundred years. Six generations in, the family continues to provide farm experiences to people of all ages. Each year, the farm features pick-your-own strawberries and pony rides, as well as food concessions on weekends. The farm-fresh stand bursts with Jersey grown produce, flowers galore, and yummy baked goods. Strawberry season is here at Ort, and the patch is open daily from 9:30AM to 4:30PM as long as conditions are ripe for picking.
See More: A Guide to Flower Farms in New Jersey
Solebury Orchards | 3325 Creamery Road, New Hope, PA
(Photo credit: @soleburyorchards)
Located in the lush Bucks County, Solebury is known for its beautiful setting and high-quality produce. Customers can pick their own blueberries when in season around the end of June. Solebury also started offering cherries for U-Pick. The farm is not open until mid-June, so sit tight and check for opening updates here.
Snyder’s Farm | 586 S. Middlebush Road, Summerset
(Photo credit: @snydersfarmnj)
Snyder’s Farm in Summerset offers U-Pick strawberries on weekends in early June. Then, weeks later, it opens for U-Pick blueberries, an authentic summer experience that children love. Later in the summer, it also has U-Pick of the Aronia berries, aka Choke berries, considered a new super berry full of vitamins and minerals packed with more antioxidants than blueberries. You can check the Facebook page for open times, as they’re subject to change.
