Photo by Instagrammer julialeemuzi.
This may be a personal bias, but my favorite fruit has always been the strawberry. From strawberry lemonade to strawberry rhubarb pie, there are so many barbecues and picnics in my life that have been sweetened by the fact that strawberries were there. The best way to enjoy any fruit, in my opinion, is when you’ve picked it yourself -- as long as you remember to actually take some home and resist the temptation to eat them all on the farm. Though at the end of the day, that’s definitely a highlight of any pick-your-own fruit farm adventure.
We are approaching the height of New Jersey’s strawberry season now! It’s a quick season, and before it comes to a close, we wanted to share our recommendations for the best pick-your-own farms for your family to indulge in some fresh fruit and other outdoor activities! Happy gathering, and make sure to share some sweet shots of you and your family with us by posting with the hashtag #SEARCHtheBurbs!
Alstede Farms
Photo by Instagrammer yanshi729.
Located in Chester, NJ, Alstede Farms not only has consistent pick your own (PYO) fruit offerings, but also provides family farm activities such as pony rides, farm to field brunch, and a petting zoo! Their website has a convenient page listing everything available to be picked on any given day, and timed tickets for pick your own are available on their website; pricing starts at $10 for entry and one quart of fruit.
ETA: a little over 30 minutes from Madison, NJ!
Johnson’s Corner Farm
Photo by Instagrammer jenna_lynn_19.
Pick your own is just one of many activities that Johnson’s Corner Farm in Medford has to offer! The Discovery Barnyard has a variety of activities such as go-karts, rock climbing, and three splash pads for the kids. They also host Little Farmers Classes throughout the year for 2-5 year olds to learn about various seasonal farming topics. The website has a calendar view of regularly scheduled and special events through the summer. Reservations for pick your own tickets are required in advance, and the pricing starts at $5 for admission (which includes a fun hayride) and $3.49 per pound of strawberry. To make those, you can click here!
ETA: an hour and a half from Hoboken, NJ!
Lee Turkey Farm
Photo by Instagrammer sadie521.
Though you won’t necessarily be there for turkeys this time of year, Lee Turkey Farm in East Windsor is home to over 3,000 turkeys -- and various pick your own offerings. Their farm does require you to join the Pick Your Own Club before entry, but it is only a $2 fee. Their featured strawberry tour includes a 50 minute lesson on the spring fruits and vegetables, honey bees, and baby turkeys -- along with a quart of strawberries to take home; it runs through the second week in June. Along with strawberries, lettuce and spinach are also in season, and updated information on what is currently in season/upcoming can be found on their website.
ETA: an hour and 16 minutes from Glen Rock, NJ!
Terhune Orchards
Photo by Instagrammer jrosario2217.
Located right by the university, Terhune Orchards in Princeton has two acres of strawberries to pick from -- and the crop beds are raised to make it easier on the body. There is a specific Read and Pick program for young children combining themed educational components with a hands-on experience that runs at 9:30 AM and 11 AM at $10 per child; you must register in advance. Otherwise, you can check their website or call the day before to confirm what they have available after 4 PM for the next day. In addition to pick your own, you can also enjoy the farm store, the year long apple cider donuts, and winery -- get some treats for yourself!
ETA: an hour and 13 minutes from Jersey City, NJ!
VonThun Farms
Photo by Instagrammer clarisse.desousa.
This location is so popular that they have two locations: one in South Brunswick and one in Washington, NJ! Their website is conveniently laid out to show the events happening each day at both of their locations. Both locations offer pick your own fruits and produce throughout the year, and various events such as Character Brunch with fun children’s show characters, Barnyard Buddies petting zoo, and The PonyPals Program to get some face time with horses. The second weekend for their annual strawberry festival is scheduled for June 12-13; the 12th is at their South Brunswick location while the 13th is at their Washington location.
ETA: the South Brunswick location is 1 hour from Montclair, NJ!
The Washington location is right under an hour from The Chathams, NJ!
We hope you enjoy some sweet summer moments with your family! Like strawberry season, so many of the best things are gone before you know it, so take the time to plan and make those memories this year.