2024 Northwest New Jersey Strawberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Strawberry U-Pick Orchards in Northwest New Jersey in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for strawberries that we know of in this area.

Not all areas of a state have strawberries farms that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!

Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!

PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.

New! As inflation remains high, see this page for reliable (tested) brands of generic canning lids at lower costs, and cost-saving measures for getting fruit and vegetables and home canning.
 If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

New! Road tripping and camping is a great way to have a fun, safe and inexpensive family trip. The national and state parks and monuments are open, and campgrounds usually cost between $10 and $40 per night. September to November is the best camping weather.  See our new website Road Tripping and Camping.com for tips, tricks, guides, checklists and info about parks, monuments and other places to visit.

New! We just went live with our latest website, FunFactoryTours.com - As they name implies, you can find a fun factory tour, including chocolate, automobiles, historical forts and sites, famous buildings, Active Federal facilities even fun geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Hunterdon County

• Bonacorsi Family Farm Pittstown Road - peas, strawberries, porta-potties are available
  662 Pittstown Road, Frenchtown\/pittstown, NJ 08825. Phone: . Email: info@bonacorsifamilyfarm.com. Open: 9am to 7pm daily, May through October. Directions: 8 miles south on Pittstown Road from route 78 Clinton exit. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check.
  Bonacorsi Family Farm Pittstown Road Facebook page.
• Melick's Town Farm Cider Mill and Orchard - strawberries, apples, flowers, pumpkins, Other fruit or veg, restrooms, picnic area
  19 King Street, Oldwick, NJ 08858. Phone: (908)439-2318. Email: melick@earthlink.net. Open: 7 days a week, from 9 am to 6 pm; U-pick strawberries typically ripening Mid-May into June; Pick your own peaches available from July 7 through September Pick your own apples available from August 1 through October Pick your own pumpkins in October. Directions: Take Route 78 to Exit 24. Head North off the highway toward Oldwick. Farm Market is one mile on the right at 170 Oldwick Road. Continue another half mile and make a left onto King Street for pick your own apples. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, WIC Vouchers.
  Melick's Town Farm Cider Mill and Orchard Facebook page. We have Pick Your Own Strawberries at our Oldwick Farm location. If you are coming to the farm just to pick strawberries, you may want to call ahead, at (908) 439-2955, as the weather will affect each year's harvest season.Click here for directions to the farm. Be sure to visit our country store when come for other seasonal vegetables, jams and jellies, baked goods, and gifts.Cider Mill and Orchards come alive every fall with weekend hayrides, school tours and friends and family exploring the orchards to find the perfect apples!Pick Your Own Apples, Hayrides (most weekends in Sept & Oct) Select the Perfect Pumpkins. View Our Working Cider Press. Just one hour from New York CityAt the center of the Cider Mill property is our 150 year old barn, surrounded by 50 acres of beautiful orchards. We grow many different varieties of apples, providing fresh delicious fruit for baking and eating, with many varieties ripening from mid-September through October. Our apples are the dwarf trees that are easy to reach by you and your family.(ADDED: September 01, 2015)
• Melick's Town Farm Oldwick - Pick Your Own: Strawberries; apples; peaches, pumpkins; flowers
  170 Oldwick Road, Oldwick, NJ . Phone: (908) 439-3888. Open: Daily. Directions: \(at the Cider Mill\) Route 78, Exit 24, N for 1 mile , the stand is on the right. Also has a roadside market with Apples; winter squash. Our apple varieties are Cortland; Empire; Fuji; Gala; Granny Smith; Golden Delicious; Jonagold; Macoun; McIntosh; Red Delicious; StaymanWinesap; Crispen; Ida Red; Rome. We also have Cider; cider donuts; bakery items; Indian corn; jams; jellies; Halloween decorations; WIC and Senior FMNP checks acceptedpick-your-own peaches, apples, or pumpkins when in season - truncated. . Click here for a map and directions. Farm market: April - December . PYO: September to Oct; call for harvest dates & hours, 10 am to 6 pm(at the Cider Mill) Route 78, Exit 24, N for 1 mile , the stand is on the right. Also has a roadside market with Apples; winter squash. Our apple varieties are Cortland; Empire; Fuji; Gala; Granny Smith; Golden Delicious; Jonagold; Macoun; McIntosh; Red Delicious; Stayman/Winesap; Crispen; Ida Red; Rome. We also have Cider; cider donuts; bakery items; Indian corn; jams; jellies; Halloween decorations; WIC and Senior FMNP checks acceptedpick-your-own peaches, apples, or pumpkins when in season!The Califon market has freshly baked goods and pre-picked produce as well! The farm stand in Oldwick features: Seasonal fruits and vegetables from our farm, Our own hard cider, apple wine, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Plants and Shrubs, Jams and Jellies, Baked goods, Gifts and Country Store Favorites, Locally Grown Fruit and Vegetables including pick your own peaches and apples, Country Store and Farm stand at Melick's Town Farm in Oldwick, New Jersey, Great Variety of Pumpkins, Fall Decorations, Christmas Trees and Wreaths, Our Own Delicious Cider.
• Peterson Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, strawberries, U-pick and already picked, porta-potties
  438 Quakertown Rd, Flemington, NJ 08822. Phone: (908) 782-1682. Email: petersonfarm1760@gmail.com. Open: Tuesday to Sunday 9 am 7 pm for the month of June. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx.
  Peterson Farm Facebook page. . Phone: (908) 878-7303 From Route 617 between Clinton and Flemington, turn onto Route 616 in Cherryville towards Quakertown. Farm is 1/2 mile on right. Look for Preserved Farm signStrawberry season is typically the month of June. Uses integrated pest management practices, Is located just outside Flemington. We have pick your own Strawberries, Choose and cut Christmas trees and fresh-picked sweet corn. Christmas trees on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Payment: Cash, Check. Look for our sweet corn stand in August. In May 2021, their website had the following prices (subject to change!) U-Pick: $3.25 per lb. We pick: $7.00 per quart. Large orders can be arranged by calling (908) 418-7578 or by email. Dog Policy: Due to our insurance policy and USDA Food Safety Regulations we ask that you leave your dog at home.

Sussex County

• Green Valley Farms - Vegetables, cut flowers, strawberries
  997 Route 23, Wantage, NJ . Phone: (973) 875-5213. Email: greenvalleyfarms.us@gmail.com. Open: May - Dec. Directions: Off Rt. 565 in town of Sussex, take Rt. 23 North for 4 mi., big farm on rightWe also have a roadside market farm stand with Sweet corn, tomatoes, fruits, pumpkins, home-made pies, jams & canned goods, specialty items, pumpkins. We also have All Natural Beef, Farm fresh Ice Cream, Cut flowers, mums, . Click here for a map and directions.
  Green Valley Farms Facebook page. . , Mon. - Fri. 9 am to 6 pm, Sat. 9 am to 7 pm, hours vary Nov. & Dec. for ChristmasOff Rt. 565 in town of Sussex, take Rt. 23 North for 4 mi., big farm on rightWe also have a roadside market / farm stand with Sweet corn, tomatoes, fruits, pumpkins, home-made pies, jams & canned goods, specialty items, pumpkins. We also have All Natural Beef, Farm fresh Ice Cream, Cut flowers, mums, Christmas wreaths & trees, moreFacebook page.(ADDED: May 26, 2014, JBS)
• Sussex County Strawberry Farm - strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, other berries, Other fruit or veg, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, train rides, straw or hay bale maze, and prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides
  HHighway 206, Andover, NJ 07860. Phone: 973-579-5055. Email: farmerjohn@sussexcountystrawberryfarm.com. Directions: Route 80 to exit 25 go north on Route 206 for 9 miles . The Farm is on the right hand side. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Sussex County Strawberry Farm Facebook page. . weekdays: 7 am till 8 pm Saturday: 7 am till 5 pm Sunday: 7 am till 3 pm Pick your own Strawberries: Early June - Early July Pick your own Raspberries: September Fall/Autumn Events: September Pick your own Pumpkins: OctoberCrops are usually available in June, September, October (UPDATED: May 12, 2019, JBS)
  Comments from a visitor on October 11, 2010: "We went to and it was really nice. great prices on things, we got apple pies, fresh apple cider, and picked a bunch of pumpkins. They had a free hay ride. It was still a very fun place for the smaller kids. They even have a kiddy playground. It was worth the trip, only 20 min from us. "

Warren County

• Donaldson Farms - Apples, Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pumpkins; Indian corn; gourds; field-grown flowers
  3345 Allen Road, Mansfield Twp, NJ . Phone: (908) 852-9122. Email: info@donaldsonfarms.net. Open: Daily, April to December, from 9 am to 6 pm. Directions: Hackettstown. We also have Jersey Fresh Cooks cookbook; milk; ice cream; fresh-baked pies; free wagon rides October & June; farm animals. 600 acre farm. There are NO ENTRY FEES, prices are calculated by the pound of what you pick. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Donaldson Farms Facebook page. In addition to u-pick, there is pre-picked: Asparagus; melons; peaches; sweet corn; tomatoes; lettuce; complete line of farm fresh produceFacebook page. - Please call for most current pricing and availability 908-852-9122 x 3.- You must check-in at the farm market before picking your own strawberries and/or raspberries.- Pint containers and flats are available for purchase. If you bring your own container or basket, it will be weighed prior to picking, and when you check out.- Absolutely no paper or plastic shopping bags are allowed in the PYO berry fields.- Picking is always weather and crop condition permitting- sun hats, sunblock, and footwear that can get dirty are recommended.- Please see our crop condition update above, visit our Facebook page, or call us for current conditions before planning your visit.
• Godlewsky Farms and Greenhouses - Strawberries; pumpkins; produce; herbs; flowers; bedding plants
  290 Us Highway 46, Great Meadows, NJ . Phone: (908) 637-4927. Email: godlewkyfarms@yahoo.com. Open: UPDATE for 2021: Call before you go, I see NOTHING on their Facebook page or website about any berries to pick; April to January, 8 am to 7 pm Monday- Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Sunday. Directions: Off Route 46 or Route 80, 312 miles on Alphano Road. We also have Hanging baskets; potted flowers; . Click here for a map and directions.
  Godlewsky Farms and Greenhouses Facebook page. Off Route 46 or Route 80, 31/2 miles on Alphano Road. We also have Hanging baskets; potted flowers; Christmas trees; sod; wetland plants; trees; shrubs; ground covers; fruit trees & shrubs
• H. A. Race and Son (Sam Race) - Strawberries
  388 Hazen-Oxford Road (Route 624), Belvidere, NJ . Phone: (908) 453-2374. Email: srrace2@earthlink.net. Open: Every day during strawberry season. Directions: 14 mile W of Apple Mountain Golf Course; 3 miles E of Belvidere; 2 miles S of Route 46. . Click here for a map and directions. s1/4 mile W of Apple Mountain Golf Course; 3 miles E of Belvidere; 2 miles S of Route 46
• Marshall's Farm Market - Strawberries
  Route 46, Box 22, Delaware, NJ . Phone: (908) 475-1989. Open: Daily, year-round. Directions: From northern NJ: take interstate 80 west to exit 4 follow route 46 east for about 7 miles. We are located on the right hand side. There is plenty of parking.From PA take route 80 east to exit 4 \(route 46 east\) follow route 46 east for about 7 miles.We are on the right. From points south in NJ: take route 31 north to route 46 west. Follow route 46 west for about 10 miles.We are on the left hand side. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Marshall's Farm Market Facebook page. . Alternate phone: (908) 475-2661 From northern NJ: take interstate 80 west to exit 4 follow route 46 east for about 7 miles. We are located on the right hand side. There is plenty of parking.From PA take route 80 east to exit 4 (route 46 east) follow route 46 east for about 7 miles.We are on the right. From points south in NJ: take route 31 north to route 46 west. Follow route 46 west for about 10 miles.We are on the left hand side. and Country Store Facebook page. In addition to u-pick, there is pre-picked: Corn; strawberries; raspberries; blackberries; tomatoes; peppers; eggplant; pumpkins; squash; apples. We also have Cider; smoked meats; jams/jellies; relishes; maple syrup; honey; candy; gifts. .
• Stoneyfield Orchards - Strawberries, Sour cherries, peaches, plums, apples, pears
  5 Orchard Street, Belvidere, NJ . Phone: (908) 475-5209. Email: info@stoneyfieldorchard.com. Open: Retail stand: daily, year round; pick your own available only June - October, 9 am to 5:30 pm. Directions: From Route 80, Exit 12, S on Route 521 to Hope, Route 519 to Route 46, turn right, go west on Route 46 to Belvidere sign, left on Route 620, go S to first left \(Orchard St.\), on left side. In addition to u-pick, there is pre-picked: Strawberries, sweet & sour cherries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, nectarines, pears, tomatoes, potatoes. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Checks, WIC and Senior FMNP.
  Stoneyfield Orchards Facebook page. Call ahead for appointment From Route 80, Exit 12, S on Route 521 to Hope, Route 519 to Route 46, turn right, go west on Route 46 to Belvidere sign, left on Route 620, go S to first left (Orchard St.), on left side. In addition to u-pick, there is pre-picked: Strawberries, sweet & sour cherries, peaches, apples, pumpkins, nectarines, pears, tomatoes, potatoes. Stoneyfield Orchard Facebook page. Our apple varieties are Baldwin, Britemac, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Ida Red, Jersey Mac, Jersey Red, Jonagold, Jonathan, Macoun, McIntosh, Northern Spy, Red Delicious, Rome, Stayman/Winesap. We also have Eggs, cheeses, jellies, maple syrup, apples and cider available until March, Vermont cheese, preserves, relishes, salad dressingsNo Credit Cards. Pick-Your-Own ScheduleJune - StrawberriesJune / July - Sour CherriesJuly / August - Peaches & PlumsAugust / September / October - Apples & Pears

 

Strawberry

Strawberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. strawberries typically peak during April in Florida and Texas, May in the deep South, and in early June in middle sections and later June in the far North and Canada. Keep in mind that crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local strawberries, producers depend on ideal spring weather conditions. 

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - strawberries are affected by weather (both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for strawberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   
   
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping strawberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

Tips on How to Pick Strawberries

1. Grasp the stem just above the berry between the forefinger and the thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.

2. With the stem broken about one-half inch from the berry, allow it to roll into the palm of your hand.

3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries. 

4. Carefully place - don't throw - the fruit into your containers. Repeat the picking process with both hands.

5. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick strawberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Be careful that your feet and knees do not damage plants or fruit in or along the edge of the row.
   
2. Pick only the berries that are fully red. Part the leaves with your hands to look for hidden berries ready for harvest.
   
3. To help the farmers, also remove from the plants berries showing rot, sunburn, insect injury or other defects and place them between the rows behind you. If they are left in the plants, the rot will quickly spread to other berries.
   
4. Berries to be used immediately may be picked any time, but if you plan to hold the fruit for a few days, try to pick in the early morning or on cool, cloudy days. Berries picked during the heat of the day become soft, are easily bruised and will not keep well.
   
5. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunshine any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Strawberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two or three, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.
   
6. For interesting and fun strawberry facts and trivia from the California Strawberry Commission, click here!

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the caps (green tops) off the others and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) See this page about how to freeze strawberries.
4. If you like the strawberries you picked, ask the farm what variety they planted, and not the weather conditions the week or two before. The flavor of a strawberry is affected by the variety, the weather and the degree of ripeness when picked.
5. Now, get ready to make strawberry jam. It is VERY easy - especially with our free strawberry jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy.

Strawberry Recipes, Canning and Freezing Strawberries

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Strawberry pie
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jello gelatin

Strawberry Facts, Measurements and Tips

• Picking the best strawberries: Select firm, fully red berries. Strawberries DO NOT continue ripen after they are picked! In the photo, only the berry on the far right is completely ripe.
• Strawberry festivals: Most areas that grow strawberries have a strawberry festival, at which you can taste all kinds of fresh strawberry foods, pies, jams, cakes - and most commonly, fresh strawberry shortcake.  To find out where and when there is one near you, see this page for a list of strawberry festivals, sorted by state!
• Strawberries measurements: government agriculture websites tell us that
  1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups and is about the same as 1 liter and
  1 quart of fresh strawberries weighs 1 lbs to 1.25 lbs (or 450 to 600 g). Of course, the weight varies on variety and weather conditions. 
  1 quart is normally enough for 4 servings, although I'll admit my son can eat 1 pint by himself!
• How much to pick? In general, 1 quart of fresh, whole, just-picked strawberries = approximately 3.5 cups hulled, whole berries. In other words, removing the caps/hulls and the occasional mushy berry means you lose 1/4 cup to 1/2 (it depends how much fruit you remove with the hull) or about 7 to 12% of every quart you pick.
• One cup of strawberries contains only about 50 calories
• U-pick strawberries are much healthier than store-bought.  Consumer reports says store bought strawberries have so many pesticide and fungicide residues on they, that they don't recommend you eat them at all!
• U-pick strawberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. 1 lbs of fresh strawberries is about 2/3 of a quart.
• It takes about  10 to 15 minutes to pick a quart, if the berries are reasonably plentiful
• The strawberry plant adapts to wide variety of soil conditions, but does not tolerate drought well, and the berries quickly rot if the weather is rainy. For this reason, the plants are usually grown on raised beds through plastic mulch!
• Cultivation of strawberries began in Europe in the 1300's, but the berry only became very popular in the early 1900's in California.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as strawberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to grow your own strawberries?  Here's an article about how to: Strawberries are an Excellent Fruit for the Home Garden, HYG-1424-98!
• See this page for many more fun and interesting strawberry facts, nutritional information and trivia

Other weird strawberry facts

• Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.
• Strawberries were originally called strewberries because the fruit was 'strewn' amongst the leaves of the plant.
• California is king of strawberry productions because: California produces 75 percent of the nation's strawberry crops; one billion pounds of strawberries each year.  If all the strawberries produced in California in one year were laid berry to berry, they would go around the world 15 times. Each acre of land in California in strawberry production produces an average of 21 tons of strawberries annually, with a total of 23,000 acres of strawberries planted in California each year.

More conversions

1 pint (2 cups)  of fresh whole strawberries

• = about 8 oz (1/2 lb) of strawberries
• = 2.25 cups of sliced strawberries
• = 1 cup pureed strawberries
• = 12-14 large strawberries

2 quarts of fresh strawberries are needed for a 9" pie

A 10 oz package of frozen berries is about the same as 1 cup of sliced fresh strawberries

References:

• University of Illinois Extension
• Driscolls
• Ohio State University Extension
• Strawberries-Average retail price per pound and per cup equivalent

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers