Pick Your Own: Strawberry Picking Farms in New Jersey

New Jersey does it big–even when it comes to pick-your-own strawberry farms. Whether you’re looking for an afternoon photo-op in the field and a few pints of berries to bring home; or a full-on weekend Strawberry Festival complete with Strawberry Shortcake, bands, craft fairs and a crowning of a Strawberry King and Queen–it’s here.

Contact the farms before heading out--Strawberry season in New Jersey falls roughly from the end of May and lasts 3-4 weeks into mid-June (we need two hot, dry days back-to-back to kick it off.) Plan to spend a couple hours at any field–and of course, weekends will be busy, but not crowded. Also, New Jersey will not allow your pets to enter the farms, so leave your furry friends at home.

Sussex County Strawberry Farm
565 Route 206 NorthAndover, NJ 07821
Approx. 1 hr drive from NYC.

An extremely good-at-being-green friend brings her family to this farm yearly and highly recommends it. In addition to the buckets of strawberries you’ll collect, grab some fresh rhubarb, too–great for pies and tarts. No plastic in the kids’ play area–wooden climbers and play-on vehicles create more natural fun. The great shop here boasts Adirondack furniture and picnic tables, too. Furniture shopping and berry-picking? Hey, it’s Jersey–shopping’s big here! Pack a picnic lunch and head to nearby Sparta Glen Park for lunch next to a burbling creek, with nice mountain hiking trails and plenty of opportunity for bear and deer sightings.

Lee Turkey Farm
Hickory Corner Rd.
Hightstown, NJ 08520(609) 448-0629
Approx. 1 hr drive from NYC.

The history buff in the family will enjoy this one! The Lee family farmhouse dates back to 1802 and all the original barns are beautifully painted and still in use. In fact, the Lee Family has farmed the same land for six generations, since 1868. More recent additions to the 54 acres are the playground, a farm gift stand, and a produce market (in case you don’t pick enough strawberries on your own.) The name, Lee Turkey Farm, derives from their raising of 5,000 turkeys annually–and you thought three kids and a hamster were tough.

Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-2310
Approx. 1 hr drive from NYC (Terhune recommends calling for directions as opposed to using Mapquest.)

Want to pick strawberries but hate the thought of tramping through muddy fields? Terhune Orchards offers special planting that allows your family to frolic through the fields without getting dirt on your shoes! Additionally, Terhune’s café features tasty food and mouth-watering desserts. Farm animal visits with domestic beasties complete your visit to this family friendly, family-run farm.

Stults Farm
Cranbury Neck Rd.
Cranbury, NJ 08512
(609) 799-2523Approx. 1 hr. from NYC.

If you’re seeking a true-to-life farm experience without the extras, this farm is your answer. The Stults Farm occupies 200 beautiful acres, and has been family-owned and operated since 1915, and the family only sells fruits and vegetables that they grow themselves. In addition to strawberries, they grow raspberries, peas, lima beans, cucumbers, peppers, green beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, melons, okra, eggplant, pumpkins, and specialty vegetables. Whew!

West Cape May Strawberry Festival
9 AM-4 PM, June 6, 2009, raindate Sunday, June 7.
Wilbraham Park (on the corner of Perry St. and Broadway)West Cape May, NJ
(Approx. 3 hr drive.)

Can’t get enough of those strawberries? Then head “down the shore” to West Cape May for the annual Strawberry Festival; a day of entertainment (including Michael Davis and the Bullets, and Mark Jacopec and his drum troupe), strawberry shortcake, and shopping (90 vendors offering clothing, art, crafts, jewelry, antiques and fresh produce.) The festival ends with the crowning of the 2009 West Cape May Strawberry King and Queen.