25(+) places to pick-your-own fruits and vegetables in New Jersey this summer

Does living in the Garden State mean we have access to plumper, juicier, better fruits and vegetables?

Now's the time to figure out — because pick-your-own season has officially arrived in New Jersey.

With strawberries already in harvest, u-pick farms from Monmouth to Bergen have begun to open their fields for public plucking (and we personally do think our produce is superior to everyone else's). As the summer progresses, those berries will give way to peaches, nectarines, tomatoes, cucumbers and more; each as delicious as the last.

This year, then, before cherries roll into apples, and granny smiths become pumpkins, make it a point to hit your local P.Y.O. and grab something ripe and tasty.

Here are 25(+) places to pick fruits (and vegetables) in New Jersey.

**NOTE** Picking can be weather/seasonally dependent, so be sure to call your local farm ahead of time to confirm its fields are open for the day.

Alstede Farms, Chester Township

A visitor eats a peach in 2018 at Alstede Farms in Chester.

Alstede Farms is one of the most extensive pick-your-own farms in Jersey. Expect strawberries, peas, radishes, cilantro and raspberries in June; blueberries, beans, peaches, sweet corns and peppers in July; and more produce throughout the fall.

All pickers must purchase a ticket online before heading to the farm. Ticket time slots are open every 30 minutes, with the first being at 9 a.m., and the last at 4:30 p.m. Each ticket includes one container to fill with produce, though you can purchase additional containers when you visit.

Bader Farms Home Grown Produce & Plants, Pine Brook 

If it’s nutritious vegetables you're after, Bader Farms in Pine Brook is the u-pick destination for you. The 15-acre, family-owned farm is run by husband and wife Ivan and Jean Bader, and their sons Ian and Sean. Within its lush green rows — you can pick your own ripe tomatoes, vibrant peppers, crunchy string beans and more (each grown with no insecticides or chemicals).

U-pick is slated to open in July, and will run from 9 a.m. to one hour before closing each day.

Battleview Orchards, Freehold

The family-owned Battleview Orchards rotates its u-pick produce depending on what’s fresh. Strawberry picking is currently the name of the game, but — later in the summer — sour cherries, peaches and nectarines will be available.

Before stopping by, it's important to note: Battleview does not take reservations; u-pick is first-come-first-serve. No strollers, backpacks, bags or reusable fruit containers are permitted, and all purchases are cash only. The farm will provide a picking container.

A $5/person fee is required to enter the strawberry patch.

Demarest Farms, Hillsdale

Demarest Farms might have won our apple cider donut showdown in the fall, but there's more than deep fried rings of carbs to celebrate at the Bergen County harvest destination. Each year, the farm offers various pick-your-own fruit seasons, with peaches being the focus of the summer.

Once the u-pick gates are opened for the aforementioned (July), each visitor will have to pay a general admission fee (TBD), plus the cost of a bag to hold the fruit. Each sack — when full — holds about 10 to 12 pounds of peaches.

Also important to note is that Demarest uses an online reservation system to help manage crowds, and asks that you reserve your time slots digitally before arrivingd.

DiMeo Farms, Hammonton

You can pick your own fresh blueberries at DiMeo Farms in Hammonton.

Pick organic blueberries among the Pine Barrens at the 109-year-old DiMeo Farms in Hammonton and cherish the taste of 11 decades of tradition. For over a century, the rustic spot has been growing "ultra-heavy bearing blueberry bushes that provide better tasting big blueberries," and this summer will be no different.

In addition to loading your basket with juicy blues, you can further enjoy your DiMeo visit by utilizing the nature trails and picnic tables in the property's expansive forest (kayaking along Hammonton Creek is also available for $20 per person). Just be sure, of course, to call ahead and reserve your same-day blueberry picking appointment.

Blueberries are $2.50 per pint, and the farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Emery’s Farm, New Egypt

But, if you're not familiar with blueberry varieties? All you need to know is they’re plump, delicious and will soon be available for u-pick from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (usually). Check the Facebook page for updates on when the farm is open.

The blueberry field is also only a short walk away from Emery's locally-famous country store, where a dedicated team of bakers offers fresh pastries and pies. So, be sure — when considering your $4 entry fee and $3/pound of blueberries — to also budget for those warm, decadent treats.

Farms View New Jersey Farm Market & Garden Center, Wayne

Farms View is yet another place to get your hands on succulent strawberries in North Jersey. The field sits just a few yards away from the main store (which offers fruits, veggies, baked goods, decor and more) and is easily accessible for families with small children. Strawberries are generally ripe on the farm throughout May and June, but picking availability depends on the specific day. Monitor picking status on the farm's Instagram page.

Should the fields be open, the entrance fee for pick-your-own is $5 and strawberries are $5.50 per pound. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Mood’s Farm Market, Mullica Hill

Mood’s is a quintessential, rustic barn with its name painted in stark black letters over a chipping white structure. Beyond that nostalgic building, however, lies fields of fruits and vegetables available for picking. In June, blueberries and raspberries bloom in their luscious rows, while July brings sweet plums and nectarines. August supplies red pears and grapes, both of which look great in photos against that aforementioned old-timey backdrop.

To pick at Mood’s, the team asks that you bring your own bucket or box (no plastic bags are allowed). Hours for the season are TBD, though the farm is generally closed on Sundays.

Sussex County Strawberry Farm, Newton

A basket of strawberries at Sussex County Strawberry Farm.

Juicy, bright red strawberries can be dusted with sugar, sliced over yogurt, baked into pies, mashed into jams, dipped into whipped cream, smothered with chocolate or eaten all on their own.

And, once the strawberries go? Raspberries will be available (starting in late August) for all of your dipping, dunking and baking needs. 

During produce season, picking starts at 7 a.m. each day — though hours are subject to change — and payments are cash only.

Wightman Farms, Morristown

Wightman Farms is a Jersey staple that has been in operation since 1922. The strawberries at the Morristown landmark are plump and pickable, and yearly guests delight in filling their baskets with them. Throughout the summer months, visitors also enjoy snagging cherries, peaches, nectarines and apples.

Though Wightman may have one of the longest picking seasons (approx. five months of PYO produce), the fields are only open to the public on very specific days and hours. Generally, u-pick runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays — and does not operate on weekdays.

Wightman's charges a one-time entry fee (TBA, but, last year, was $10 per person), which is good for the entire season. Fruit is an additional price/pound.

Other pick-your-own farms

Hallock’s U-Pick Farm: Sweet peas, okra, snow peas, broccoli, hot peppers, spinach, cilantro and more. 38 Fischer Road, New Egypt; 609-758-8847, hallocksupick.com.

Specca Farms: Eggplants, snow peas, cucumbers, zucchini, habanero peppers, beets and more. 870 Jacksonville-Mount Holly Road, Bordentown; 609-267-4445, speccafarms.com (PYO available produce lists updated regularly at: facebook.com/SpeccaFarmsPickYourOwn).

Phillips Farms: Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, currants, sweet and sour cherries and more. 564 Milford-Warren Glen Road (Rt. 519), Milford; 908-995-0022, phillipsfarms.com.

Walking Bird Farm: Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, herbs, green beans and tomatoes. 250 S Mannheim Ave., Egg Harbor City; 609-808-4420, walkingbirdfarm.com.

Johnson's Corner Farm: Strawberries, sugar snap peas, radishes, string beans, corn, peaches and more. 133 Church Road, Medford; 609-654-8643, johnsonsfarm.com.

Former NorthJersey.com food writer Rebecca King contributed.