2024 Southwest New Jersey Pear U-Pick orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Pear U-Pick orchards in Southwest New Jersey in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards for pears that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have pears orchards 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.

Burlington County

• Riverside Homestead Farm (aka, Taylor's Riverside Farm) - ORGANIC, Pick Your Own: Raspberries; tomatoes; peppers; eggplant; blackberries; pears; pumpkins
  7 Taylor Lane, Cinnaminson, NJ . Phone: (856) 829-4992. Email: ktmizuro7@gmail.com. Open: June - October, Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 PM. Directions: at the Delaware River, From Route 130 take Taylors Lane Northwest, across Route 543 onto farm road and follow signs to stand. We also have a roadside market farm stand with Peas; cherries; green beans; tomatoes; bell peppers; eggplant; corn; blackberries; raspberries; gooseberries; pears; pumpkins. We also have By order - pole limas. Limited volume; all organic. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Riverside Homestead Farm (aka, Taylor's Riverside Farm) Facebook page. . at the Delaware River, From Route 130 take Taylors Lane Northwest, across Route 543 onto farm road and follow signs to stand. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Peas; cherries; green beans; tomatoes; bell peppers; eggplant; corn; blackberries; raspberries; gooseberries; pears; pumpkins. We also have By order - pole limas. Limited volume; all organic. Also called "Taylor's River Side Farm". Our apple varieties are Stayman Winesap, Liberty, Red and Yellow Delicious.
• Strawberry Hill Farm - Apples, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins
  Corner of Waln & Ellisdale Road, Chesterfield, NJ 8620. Phone: 609-298-0823. Open: July, August, September, October. Directions: Please refer to our website. . Click here for a map and directions. . Click here for a map to our farm. We are open Our hours are: Everyday 9 am to 5 pm (7 days a week) Peaches and Nectarines- end of July - beginning of September. Apples- mid August to end of October . Pick Your Own: Peaches, nectarines,apples, plums and pears. A visitor writes on August 06, 2013: "The owners provide wagons and baskets to carry the fruit around the farm. Great for kids because you don't have to walk far from your car to get to the orchard. Peaches were 90 cents a pound 8/13. Be sure to call or check their facebook page before you go. They close the farm when they are all picked out of ripe fruit."

Gloucester County

• Heritage Station - Pick Your Own: Apples; peaches; pears; pumpkins
  480 Mullica Hill Road (Route 322), Mullica Hill, NJ . Phone: (856) 589-4474. Email: heritagestation@snip.net. Open: May to November. Directions: Route 55, Exit 50B to Route 322, 2 miles; Route 322 E of Mullica Hill or Route 322 W of Glassboro. We also have a roadside market farm stand with Apples; pumpkins; squash; corn; peaches; plums; pears; vegetables. Our apple varieties are Empire; Fuji; Gala; Granny Smith; Golden Delicious; Jonagold; McIntosh; Red Delicious; StaymanWinesap. We also have Jersey Fresh Cooks cookbook; cider; baked goods; bedding plants; annuals; perennials; hay rides; Fishing with Rich; WIC and Senior FMNP checks accepted. A visitor writes on July 07, 2018: "U-Pick at Heritage Station: Now they changed their name to "William Heritage Winery". They are more into winery business. They still do U-pick but in a much small scale than before. The time is from 10 am to 5 pm, Mon-Sun, much late than before. ". Click here for a map and directions. . In season: 10 am to 5 pm; out of season: 8 am to 6 pm; Saturday, & Sun. 9 am to 5 pm for pick your own Route 55, Exit 50B to Route 322, 2 miles; Route 322 E of Mullica Hill or Route 322 W of Glassboro. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Apples; pumpkins; squash; corn; peaches; plums; pears; vegetables. Our apple varieties are Empire; Fuji; Gala; Granny Smith; Golden Delicious; Jonagold; McIntosh; Red Delicious; Stayman/Winesap. We also have Jersey Fresh Cooks cookbook; cider; baked goods; bedding plants; annuals; perennials; hay rides; Fishing with Rich; WIC and Senior FMNP checks accepted. A visitor writes on July 07, 2018: "U-Pick at : Now they changed their name to "William Heritage Winery". They are more into winery business. They still do U-pick but in a much small scale than before. The time is from 10 am to 5 pm, Mon-Sun, much late than before. "
• Mood's Farm Market - Pick Your Own: Apples, blackberries, blueberries, pears, raspberries, cherries (sweet, pie), plums, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pumpkins
  901 Bridgeton Pike (Route 77), Mullica Hill, NJ . Phone: (856) 478-2500. Open: June - Thanksgiving, closed Sundays, Summer: 8 am to 8 pm; Fall: 8 am to 5 pm. Directions: Route 77 5 miles S of Mullica Hill on Route 77; 3 miles N of Route 40. We also have a roadside market farm stand with Apples; pumpkins; all vegetables. Our apple varieties are Cortland, Empire, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious. We also have Apple cider; apple cider donuts; fall hay rides; WIC and Senior FMNP checks accepted. We specialize in pick your own fruit starting with sweet cherries in June and finishing with pumpkins in October. We make apple cider donuts fresh daily \(Mon-Sat\), and we press our own apple cider in the fall. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Mood's Farm Market Facebook page. . See this page for Pick your own updates. Route 77 5 miles S of Mullica Hill on Route 77; 3 miles N of Route 40. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Apples; pumpkins; all vegetables. Our apple varieties are Cortland, Empire, Gala, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious. We also have Apple cider; apple cider donuts; fall hay rides; WIC and Senior FMNP checks accepted. We specialize in pick your own fruit starting with sweet cherries in June and finishing with pumpkins in October. We make apple cider donuts fresh daily (Mon-Sat), and we press our own apple cider in the fall. Facebook page. We have apple picking hayrides in September and pumpkin picking hayrides in October. We take pride in selling quality produce, and giving you a fun experience on our farm. A visitor writes on September 05, 2013: "Just wanted to say how great this pick-your-own farm is. We picked delicious peaches and sweet-tart blackberries today (Sept. 5, 2013), at an excellent price. The young ladies at the farm stand were polite and helpful, and the orchards were easily accessible and still laden with fruit. Highly recommended!"
  Comments from a visitor on October 11, 2010: "Just returned from a trip to Mood's to pick my own apples. My 13 year old son and I had a wonderful time, walking through the orchards and picking out just the apples that we needed. It is really nice to be able to pick different varieties that you want, unlike some of the other "big" pick-your-own farms in the area that only allow you to pick one variety of apple. Prices were reasonable, and we also left with a dozen warm apple cider donuts that were delicious! Highly recommend this farm. "
  Comments from a visitor on September 25, 2010: "My daughters and I had a wonderful time picking apples. They were plentiful and the directions we had to follow were very simple for picking, and paying. We will certainly be back."
  Comments from a visitor on July 20, 2009: "What a great experience my three children (9, 7, and 4) and I had today. Moods Farm has a friendly atmosphere. Cute Farm stand that includes veggies, fruits, jams and YUMMY homemade apple cider donuts. We traveled from Maryland for the second year and the donuts, especially if you get them warm are the best. The picking procedure is simple. They weigh your bucket that you bring or you can buy little cardboard buckets for 25 cents. We picked blackberries, blueberries and white peaches that were all delicious and very inexpensive. The blueberries were $1.15 a pound, blackberries were$1.40 and the peaches were 85 cents. I had a ton of fruit all for about $6. They have a great picnic area too. We will be back again soon. Great find and I found it on this website. Thank You. "

 

pear Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

pears, also known as serviceberries or Juneberries, are delicious and nutritious berries native to North America, mostly in the western Canada and northwestern U.S. . These small blue-purple berries grow on shrubs or small trees and have a unique flavor that is often described as a combination of blueberries, raspberries, and almonds. Here's what you need to know about pears, how to use them, when to harvest them, and how to do it:

Flavor and Uses:

pears have a pleasantly sweet and slightly tart taste, making them a versatile ingredient in various culinary creations. They can be enjoyed fresh, added to fruit salads, used in baked goods such as pies, muffins, and tarts, or even incorporated into jams, jellies, and sauces. pear berries also freeze well. They can be substituted for blueberries in recipes.

If you're looking for great, easy to follow recipes to make jam, jelly, freeze or make pear pie from Saksatoons / Juneberries, see these pages:

• How to make pear jam
• How to freeze pears
• World's best and easiest pear pie
• How to Can pears
• How to make pear jelly
• How to make and can pear syrup
• How to make home-canned pear pie filling to use later
• pear buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping pear coffee cake

Harvesting Season:

The exact timing of pear berry harvest can vary depending on your location and climate, but it generally occurs in the summer months. In most regions, you can expect to start harvesting pears from late June to early August. Keep an eye on the berries as they ripen to determine the best time for harvesting.

Determining Ripeness:

Ripe pear berries are plump, firm, and have a deep purple-blue color. They should come off the plant easily when gently pulled or twisted. Look for berries that have a uniform color and avoid those that are still green or red. Taste a few berries to ensure they have reached the desired sweetness before harvesting the entire crop.

How to pick or harvest:

To harvest pear berries, simply hold the branch beneath the cluster of ripe berries and gently pluck them off with your fingers. It's best to place a container or basket beneath the branch to catch the berries as they fall.

The easiest and fastest way to pick them is hold your bucket under them in one hand and with your other hand, cup a ripe bunch and gently rub them with your fingers.  The ripe berries will drop into your bucket, while the unripe ones will remain attached to the bush.

Be careful not to squeeze or crush the berries while harvesting to maintain their shape and quality.

Handling and Storage:

Handle pear berries with care as they are delicate and can bruise easily. After harvesting, sort through the berries and remove any damaged or overripe ones. Store the freshly picked berries in a shallow container, preferably in a single layer, to prevent crushing and allow for proper airflow. Refrigerate the berries and consume them within a few days for optimal freshness. If you have an abundant harvest, consider freezing the berries for longer-term storage.

• Once picked, don't place the berries, still warm from the sun, in a closed bag or container. Leave the container open so moisture doesn't form in the container.
• Don't wash berries until just before using, to prevent berries from becoming mushy.
• Chill berries soon after picking to increase shelf life. Store your fresh pears in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked pears will keep 10 to 14 days.
• Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening.  Place berries one layer deep. Freeze, then pour the frozen berries into freezer containers. Because unwashed pears freeze individually, they can be easily poured from containers in desired amounts. Remember both frozen and fresh berries should be rinsed and drained just before serving. Just before using, wash the berries in cold water.

 

 

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