2024 Central New Jersey Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Central New Jersey in 2024, by county

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

Mercer County

• Fairgrown Farm LLC - Certified Organic for some crops, kale, lettuce or salad greens, hot peppers, sweet peppers, Heirloom tomatoes, paste or Roma tomatoes, tomatoes, flowers, Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Local honey from within 50 miles, Fresh eggs, porta-potties, Cell service cell phones work here, CSA
  260 Wargo Road, Pennington , NJ 08534. Phone: (609) 429-0275. Email: james@fairgrownfarm.com. Open: During CSA Hours only! Please call for hours and availability. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From the Watershed Institute turn left out of their driveway onto Titus Mill Road. Turn left onto Wargo Road. Fairgrown Farm will be the first (and only) farm on the right. We are certified organic for some crops. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, All credit cards.
  Click here for our Facebook page.
  Click here for our Instagram page.
  Join our CSA today! Special events for community members and unique CSA experiences await you! Support your local community and reconnect with where your food comes from.
  (ADDED: January 24, 2024)
• Lee Turkey Farm - Pick Your Own: Apples, cherries, nectarines, peaches, beans, peas, squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, eggplant, peppers, broccoli, pumpkins, other vegetables, flowers, hayrides, corn maze
  201 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, NJ . Phone: (609) 448-0629. Open: May - December, 9 am till 6 pm Monday through Saturday and on Sundays from 2 pm till 6 pm; Please keep in mind that if you are coming to pick you must be at the farm no later than 5:15pm to enter the fields and orchards. Directions: On Hickory Corner Road, 1 mile W of Route 130. We also have a roadside market farm stand with Apples, cucumbers, cabbage, fruits, vegetables. Our apple varieties are Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Red Delicious, Red Delicious, StaymaWinesap. We also have Hay rides; walking tours; corn maze; oven-ready turkeys. We also have Hay rides; walking tours; corn maze; oven-ready turkeys. Strawberries are usually available from mid May through mid June. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Lee Turkey Farm Facebook page. . On Hickory Corner Road, 1 mile W of Route 130. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Apples, cucumbers, cabbage, fruits, vegetables. Our apple varieties are Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Red Delicious, Red Delicious, Stayma/Winesap. We also have Hay rides; walking tours; corn maze; oven-ready turkeys. We also have Hay rides; walking tours; corn maze; oven-ready turkeys. Strawberries are usually available from mid May through mid June. Facebook page. Pick Your Own Club/Picking Card: Before entering our fields and orchards, you must be a member of the Pick Your Own Club. The "Club" is nothing new. We have been doing this since 1972. The purpose of our Pick Your Own Club is to ensure that all of our customers understand the rules of our farm. We realize that no one particularly likes to follow rules, but ours are pretty easy to follow. After the form is filled out, there is a $2 charge for membership, and you will receive a picking card that acts as your pass for the entire season and shows that you filled out the liability form. Just $2 for the entire family for the entire year. Bring your picking pass with you whenever you come to pick, or you will be required to fill out the form again and purchase a new one. A visitor writes on September 06, 2014: "The blackberries that I got form the farm, worth $5, were a waste of money. It had plenty of worms..oh god! thrown them all.. please never bring berries from this farm. Also, last time I bought Nectarines from market, they were super sour. If you need Nectarines, pick by yourself (they are good), but the one in the market are not ripened.Peaches are good; apples are not so sweet.(while some are super sour, taste and then pick). EGG PLANTS ARE TOO GOOD. Please, never pick blackberries, they are just so suspicious to eat..eaweeeee. I have been to this farm twice,in future will go only for necters and peaches. good luck for your next pick up."
  Comments from a visitor on September 19, 2009: "My fiancee and I love to pick your own fruit. I was searching your website for a place that was close to home and we found . It's a GREAT place. It has a mom and pop feel. The staff is very friendly and are always willing to help you. The fruit was delicious and very plentiful. We went peach picking in September and there were so very many trees that still had so much fruit on them. I enjoyed the low prices on the pick your own. This is a GREAT find. People should check this place out!!"
• Village Farms - strawberries, raspberries, Plum tomatoes
  3020 Main St. (Rt. 206 North), Lawrenceville, NJ . Phone: (609) 896-2257. Email: villfarm1@aol.com. Open: May- November, Daily 10 am- 6:30 pm. Click here for a map and directions. . 2 mi. N of Rt. 95 on Rt. 206. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Strawberries; asparagus, sweet corn, tomatoes (for slicing, plum, cherry, and grape), squash, cucumbers, melons, blackberries, raspberries, herbs, peaches, apples, pumpkins, plums, beans, peas. We also have Honey and flowers.

Middlesex County

• John Himich Farms - Tomatoes, eggplant, peaches, pears, apples (September. & Oct.), vegetables, flowers, pumpkins, cut & choose Christmas trees
  701 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick, NJ . Phone: (732) 257-1538. Open: Aug. Click here for a map and directions. . 15 - Nov. 1. NJ Tpk South Exit 9, Rt. 18 S to Cranbury Rd. Exit (Rt. 535S), 31/2 miles, on right. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Variety of fruits and vegetables. Our apple varieties are Empire, Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Stayman/Winesap. We also have Mums, cut flowers, local honey. Call for more information and hours.

Monmouth County

• Atlantic Farms - Peppers; eggplant; tomatoes; squash; plum tomatoes; cut flowers; pumpkins; mums;
  1506 Atlantic Ave. (Rt. 524), Wall, NJ . Phone: (732) 528-8680. Open: Daily, year-round, 9 am to 5;00 pm. Directions: GSP Exit 98 \(Rt. 34 to Sea GirtManasquan Exit\) Rt. 524 E; or Rt. 35 to Manasquan Cir., Rt. 524 W. We also have a roadside market farm stand with Broccoli; cabbage; cauliflower; cucumbers; eggplant; herbs; lettuce; melons; peppers \(sweet, hot\); squash \(summer, winter\); tomatoes; plum tomatoes; string beans; beets; carrots; sweet corn; onions; pumpkins; radishes; spinach; watermelon,hay straw; corn stalks; . Click here for a map and directions. . GSP Exit 98 (Rt. 34 to Sea Girt/Manasquan Exit) Rt. 524 E; or Rt. 35 to Manasquan Cir., Rt. 524 W. We also have a roadside market / farm stand with Broccoli; cabbage; cauliflower; cucumbers; eggplant; herbs; lettuce; melons; peppers (sweet, hot); squash (summer, winter); tomatoes; plum tomatoes; string beans; beets; carrots; sweet corn; onions; pumpkins; radishes; spinach; watermelon,hay straw; corn stalks; Christmas trees. We also have Hay rides during pumpkin season, Christmas, Easter; corn maze; petting farm, school & group farm tours; picnic area; equipment display; special events as advertised; WIC and Senior FMNP checks accepted.
• Ogule's Farm - Tomatoes; watermelons; okra; sweet pot cantaloupe; assorted peas; assorted beans.
  39 McCaffery Rd., Englishtown, NJ . Phone: (732) 446-7342. Email: sogule1586@aol.com. Open: Daily, day-light hours. Click here for a map and directions. . From Rt. 33, take Rt. 527 towards Englishtown, turn left at 4-way stop onto Woodward Rd., first right onto McCaffery Rd., farm is on left down the long driveway.
• Peppadew Fresh Farms - Hydrangea (September), Pussy Willow, (Feb), quince, (March) Wine Grapes (Oct) Tomatoes/Eggplant (Sept)
  97 Harbor Rd., Morganville, NJ . Phone: (908) 507-2240. Email: pierre@peppadewusa.com. Open: Weekends, Call for times. Click here for a map and directions. . GSP south to 117 A Aberdeen, exit right on Lloyd Rd. Left at Rt. 79. Go one mile to Harbor Rd., make right onto Harbor Rd. 1/2 mile down on right side,

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

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