It is almost apple picking season in New Jersey! I’ve always considered apple picking the start of the fall season! It is one of my favorite fall activities and my family makes it a tradition every year. Apple orchards in New Jersey are my favorite to visit. It’s a perfect weekend activity and it’s so much fun having your day filled with hayrides, cider tastings, apple cider donuts, and a bag full of picked apples! I’ve been to several farms throughout New Jersey so I want to share with you the best farms to go apple picking in New Jersey. Take a look to find the perfect farm to pick your own apples!
When is apple picking season in NJ?
The apple season in New Jersey starts in late August and goes through October. The peak picking time is usually September 1st through October 15th. The weather patterns can sometimes cause a delay so I recommend going apple picking in September to get the best and most ripened apples.
Also, before going apple picking, make sure to always check the farm’s website for any updates and picking availability.
If you are looking to see where to go apple picking, I have listed the best apple orchards in New Jersey that are located throughout North, Central, and South Jersey.
Apple Picking Farms in North New Jersey
Alstede Farms
Alstede Farms is located in Chester, NJ. You can pick your own strawberries, peas, raspberries, blueberries, beans, peaches, blackberries, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, flowers, potatoes, apples, and pumpkins. In addition to pick-your-own, they have live entertainment, children’s activities, friendly farm animals, adventure maze, sunflower trail, a farm store, homemade ice cream and even wine tastings provided by Tomasello Winery.
They also have fun farm events and festivals. One of their cool is events is a pancake brunch, which includes an all you can eat farm to table buffet, tractor drawn wagon ride, and admission to their fields and orchards. They have blueberry and peach pancakes in the summer and apple and pumpkin pancakes in the fall. Check out their events page for more information!
Demarest Farms
Demarest Farms is located in Hillsdale, NJ. You can pick your own peaches, apples, and pumpkins. General admission is $7 per person, which includes free parking, entrance to apple orchard, petting zoo, and playground. You must make a reservation online to visit the farm. For Halloween and Christmas, they have light shows and they also offer private event bookings for their drive-in movie theater!
Hillview Farms
Hillview Farm is located in Gillette, NJ. You can pick your ow blueberries, peaches, zinnias, apples, and pumpkins. They have tractor rides to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch on the weekends. They also have a general store where you can purchase a variety of fruits and vegetables, cider, and homemade pies.
Wightman Farms
Wightman Farms is located in Morristown, NJ. The have a one-time membership entrance fee of $10 per person that is good for the entire season. The “membership fee” offer ends August 31st. After, it will be $10 per visit. You can pick a variety of fruits and vegetables. Check out their website for updates on picking availability.
Melick’s Town Farm
Melick’s Town Farm has two locations to pick your own apples: Califon Orchards in Califon, NJ and Cider Mill and Orchard in Oldwick, NJ. They are the largest apple growers in New Jersey with more than 25,000 apple trees.
At the Califon orchards location, you can pick peaches, pears, apples, and pumpkins. They also have apple cider and fresh baked goods. Their apple season is from August through mid-November. At their Cider Mill and Orchards location, you can pick your own apples and try their fresh apple cider. They are open from mid-September though the second week of November.
Apple Picking Farms in Central New Jersey
Battleview Orchards
Battleview Orchards is a family owned and operated farm in Freehold, NJ. Fun fact – they are actually the oldest Pick Your Own orchard in New Jersey! You can pick your own strawberries, sour cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples, and pumpkins. They also have a farm store that is open all year where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, home baked pies, breads, pastries, apple cider, and their famous apple cider donuts. This is my favorite farm to go apple picking and their apple cider donuts are the best!
There is no entrance fee and their apple season starts on August 27th. However, please note that their apple crops experienced frost damage so some varieties of apples will be light this year.
Eastmont Orchards
Eastmont Orchards is located in Colts Neck, NJ. You can pick your own peaches and apples and they also have a sunflower field. Their apple season begins in mid/late August through end of October. On the weekends, they charge an entrance fee (ranges from $2-5 based on season) and you pay for what you pick. They also have a small farmer’s market stand where they sell local fruits, vegetables and jams.
Terhune Orchards
Terhune Orchards is a family owned 250 acre farm in Princeton, NJ. You can pick your own berries, flowers, apples and pumpkins. Apple picking starts Labor Day weekend on September 3rd. They also have a farm store that is open year-round where you can find a variety of fruits and vegetables, baked goods including their apple cider donuts and pies, locally sourced gourmet food, flowers, plants, and their own award-winning wine.
Giamarese Farm & Orchards
Giamarese Farm is located in East Brunswick, NJ. They are open May through December and grow a variety of fruits and vegetables that are available in their farmer’s market or you can pick your own. You can pick strawberries, peas, peaches, apples, pumpkins, greens and even Christmas trees! They have plenty of fun activities such as their Fall Harvest Weekends, seasonal events, and Volunteer Gleanings for the hungry.
Apple Picking Farms in South New Jersey
Strawberry Hill Farm
Strawberry Hill Farm is located in Chesterfield, NJ. Their season starts August 19, 2022 with Macintosh and Gala apples. They don’t take reservations and only accept cash or check.
Mood’s Farm Market
Mood’s Farm Market is located in Mullica Hill, NJ. They specialize in picking your own fruit starting with sweet cherries in June and finishing with apples and pumpkins in October. They make apple cider donuts fresh daily and press their own apple cider in the fall. They have apple picking hayrides in September and pumpkin picking hayrides in October. The farm’s apple picking season starts in the middle of August and goes through November. Their variety of apples are Pippen, Ginger Gold, Gala, Cortland, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Staymared, Rome, Fuji, and Pink Lady. Please note that they are closed on Sundays.
Hill Creek Farms
Hill Creek Farms is located in Mullica Hill, NJ. They have a 24-acre farm which includes 3 huge apple orchards with over 14,000 apple trees, plus an orchard of plums, Asian pears, and nectarines. The farm also has apple cider donuts, barrel train rides, fresh made apple cider, and local wine. Check out their website for ticket information when they start their fall season!
Johnson’s Corner Farm
Johnson’s Corner Farm is located in Medford, NJ. Their first fall harvest festival begins on September 10, 2022. Their new barn will be opening with expanded gifts and bakery offerings. They will have daily hayrides to the apple orchard and pumpkin fields. The farm will also have a food tent with their famous pulled pork sandwich, hot dogs, nachos, and farm made French fries. Their corn maze and sunflower picking will also be available.
Tickets to the farm are $9 at the gate on weekends or $7 if you purchase them online prior to arrival. They also offer weekday discounts and combos.
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