Strawberry picking in NJ at one of these kid-friendly PYO farms will be a highlight of the summer!
Looking to get outdoors and snack on delicious sun-ripened fruit? Then head for the hills of New Jersey, where the pick your own farms are bountiful and the strawberries are bursting with flavor from late-May through June.
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If you're new to the PYO scene, its important to know that strawberries are just the start of a season full of fresh fruit. In late June and July you'll find the best summertime cherry picking NY families love, followed by the best blueberry picking in New York and beyond! Plus, there's more to a day of picking at a Jersey farm than fruit alone: Many orchards have additional treats for both kiddos and their guardians, including petting zoos, markets and garden centers. All you need for a day of PYO is closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and a hat - at most farms they provide picking containers for you to fill, though be sure to check their website for other requirements before hitting the road. While most farms require no advance reservations, some are keeping the crowds at bay by having visitors purchase tickets before they arrive.
A PYO adventure is just one option for a summertime of family fun. While you're at it, check out the best beaches for kids in and around NYC, the best hiking trails for NYC families to explore and the best family camping spots near NYC. We're here to help you make the most of this summer!
Travel time: 1.5 hours by car
The awesome summer fruits at Battleview Orchards include strawberries, sour cherries, peaches and nectarines! They'll keep you updated on the strawberry season via their Facebook (so check it regularly), but it usually begins in late May or early June. Visit in fall for fun weekend hayrides! Open daily from 9am-6pm. 91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ (732-462-0756, battlevieworchards.com).
Travel time: 1.5 hours by car
Daily from 9am-5pm (advanced tickets required), the kiddos will love picking their own strawberries from Alstede Farms' strawberry patch. After those baskets are filled, spend the rest of the day meeting the friendly farm animals! Other summer produce offerings include green and pink gooseberries, currants, red and black raspberries, blueberries and a variety of veggies. 1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester, NJ (908-879-7189, alstedefarms.com).
Travel time: 2 hours by car
This 225-acre farm in Princeton has plenty of pick-your-own strawberries, along with sweet cherries, sour cherries and blueberries. Come back in July for blackberries and raspberries! After you’re done picking, check out the farm’s animals: Sheep, goats, horse, ducks and chickens abound. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ (609-924-2310, terhuneorchards.com).
Travel time: 1.5 hours by car
It's all in the name: Sussex County Strawberry Farm specializes in growing your favorite big red berry. (They also have raspberries and pumpkin picking later in the season!) If you're in the market for some beautiful plants can check out the nearby Garden Center for marigolds, zinnias, geraniums and more! 565 US-206, Newton, NJ (973-579-5505, sussexcontystrawberryfarm.com).
Travel time: 1.5 hours by car
Don’t sweat the name—Lee Turkey Farm is a fantastic PYO spot with a bounty of strawberries. The farm also offers cherries in June before opening its fields of melons, peaches, raspberries and sauce apples in July. In the fall, you'll want to come back for head here for oven-ready whole turkeys raised right on the farm. 201 Hickory Corner Rd, East Windsor, NJ (609-448-0629, leeturkeyfarm.com).
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