Blueberry picking is a perfect summer activity for the whole family: the bushes are low, the berries pop off the plants easily, and your family can literally pick hundreds without breaking the bank—or your back hauling them home. Lucky for us, blueberries are the official state fruit of New Jersey, and they are plentiful throughout the Garden State. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best pick-your-own farms NJ has to offer for kids, along with a few blueberry festivals. Happy picking!
Blueberry picking is just the beginning of the fun at Alstede Farms. Photo courtesy of the farm
Pick-Your-Own Farms
Alstede Farms – Chester
Alstede Farms is a pick-your-own fave for many NJ families for the diversity it offers. In addition to pick-your-own berries (and tons of other items throughout the growing season), the farm sells tickets and wristbands for pony rides, a moon bounce, corn box, hay pyramid, and more. Hayrides are included in the pick-your-own fee, and everyone can enjoy the farm animals and farm store. Alstede gets very busy on the weekends during peak hours, so plan accordingly—one option is to go during the week for free (Monday–Thursday, 9–11am) or reduced (Monday–Friday, 11am–5pm) pick-your-own pricing. And don't miss the blueberry festival!
DiMeo Fruit Farms and Berry Plant Nursery – Hammonton
If chemical-free farming appeals to your family, DiMeo is the place to go. This old-fashioned farm offers naturally grown, heirloom blueberries, and picking is by appointment only.
Emery's Berry Patch – New Egypt
With 60 acres dedicated to the fruit, this farm is serious about blueberries! Pick your own, visit the farm store, and meet the barn animals all in one trip.
Haines Berry Farm – Pemberton
Home of the Whitesbog Fest, this farm offers pick-your-own blueberries as well as a roadside market with lots of goodies.
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Blueberry bushes are just the right height for little ones. Photo by elizaraxi/CC BY 2.0
Happy Day Farm – Manalapan
This farm has crops of blueberries and raspberries that will delight children of all ages. There are tons of farm activities (some for an additional cost), including a two-acre acre sunflower maze, hayride, Hi-Striker, a lavender garden, a giant checker board, a wooden train, playground, pedal carts, tire mountain, horse lasso, sand crane, and more.
Johnson's Corner Farm – Medford
There's a lot to do at this farm, which hosts some creative farm activities. In addition to blueberry picking and the farm store, you can try gem mining, hay rides, or Fun after Five, a low-cost evening of kids' activities like pedal go-karts, splash pads, farm animals, sand boxes, and more.
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Pick your fill at Lindsay's Farm in Hammonton. Photo courtesy of the farm
Lindsay's Farm – Hammonton
This farm follows organic farming methods and has a small but growing blueberry crop.
Phillips Farms – Milford
While apples may be the specialty here, bushels of pick-your-own berries abound as well. The roadside market features seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, tomato products, and hanging baskets. Note that the pick-your-own area is closed on Tuesdays.
Snyder's Farms – Somerset
This lovely 80-acre farm has a nice pick-your-own blueberry and strawberry area that's perfect for kids. In the fall, don't miss the Fall Festival!
Terhune Orchards – Princeton
Terhune has two acres devoted to blueberry bushes ripe for picking. Check out the farm store and barn animals during your trip, and on July 10 at 9:30 and 11am, enjoy the Read & Pick program for a small fee. Pre-registration suggested.
Blueberry Festivals
Alstede Farms – Chester
Saturday and Sunday, July 7-8 and 14-15, 2018
Pick your own blueberries, sample blueberry treats, and have tons of farm fun at this annual celebration.
Mood's Farm Market – Mullica Hill
Saturday, July 7, 2018
This fest features pick-your-own blueberries, live music, face painting, delectable snacks, and a baking contest.
Blueberry Bash at Terhune Orchards – Princeton
Saturday, July 7 – Sunday, July 8, 2018
Enjoy all things blueberry at the Blueberry Bash. Start your visit with pick-your-own fun, and stay for the music and blueberry baked goods contest. Puppet shows will start at noon on both days, and admission includes wagon rides, barnyard animals meet-and-greet, and more.
BlueBEARy Blast at Camden Children’s Garden – Camden
Saturday, July 14 – Sunday, July 15, 2018
Mum Bear takes over at the Camden Children’s Garden for a day of crafts, planting, and Very Berry Blueberry treats.
Original article published June 2011; updated for 2018.
