2024 Northwest New Jersey Blackberry U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Blackberry U-Pick Orchards in Northwest New Jersey in 2024, by county

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

Hunterdon County

• Bonacorsi Family Farm - apples, blackberries, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black),
  1137 Croton Road Route 579, Flemington, NJ 8867. Phone: (609) 638-0048. Email: info@bonacorsifamilyfarm.com. Open: raspberries and blackberries start in early July; hours are daily from 10 am until 7. Directions: From the south and Flemington: Follow route 579 north \(Croton Road\) from route 12 for 3 miles. Look for our red signs on the left. From Clintonroute 78north: Follow route 513 to route 579- stay on 579. When it turns south from 579Quakertown Road onto 579Croton road, look for our red signs about 34 mile down on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, check, only.
  Bonacorsi Family Farm Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. From the south and Flemington: Follow route 579 north (Croton Road) from route 12 for 3 miles. Look for our red signs on the left. From Clinton/route 78/north: Follow route 513 to route 579- stay on 579. When it turns south from 579/Quakertown Road onto 579/Croton road, look for our red signs about 3/4 mile down on the right. Check our website for up to date information on events for the kids and specials on our produce. Pick-your-own apples are offered on some weekends in the Fall. Watch the homepage and signs at the stand for availability. We have purchased a second farm about 3.5 miles away and moved pick your own strawberries to the new farm, 662 Pittstown Road, Frenchtown, NJ 08825, which is open this year. All containers are provided. Children welcome, keep them close. No pets due to food safety laws (not much shade for parking- best to leave them home). A porta-potty is available for customer use. No smoking due to lots of straw in use and plus the farm fresh air smells so much better without it! This is not a "tourist" farm, just a place to pick delicious produce. There are no rides or mazes or picnicking. I'd be happy to recommend local parks for picnics, and local restaurants if you are hungry.(UPDATED: June 09, 2016)
• Phillips Farms - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, Asian pears, blackberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, pie or sour cherries, red currants, black currants, white currants, elderberries, gooseberries, Seedless table grapes, table grapes with seeds, wine grapes, nectarines, pears, Asian pears, peaches, plums, red raspberries red, Spring red raspberries, Autumn red raspberries, Black raspberries, Spring black raspberries, Other fruit, eggplant, hot peppers, tomatoes, sunflowers, zinnias, Local honey from within 50 miles, bakery, porta-potties, Cell service cell phones work here, No dogs allowed except for service animals
  564 Milford Warren Glen Road, Milford, NJ 08848. Phone: (908) 628-9251. Alternate Phone: (908) 995-0022. Email: farmer@phillipsfarms.com. Open: season is from late May through late October; summer months open everyday except Tuesdays from 9 am to 5:30 pm; please visit our website or Facebook page for Spring and Fall hours. Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Tucked away in scenic Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Phillips Farms lies directly across the Delaware River from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They are a little over an hour away from New York City and Philadelphia, 30 minutes from the Lehigh Valley, and 40 minutes from New Hope, Pennsylvania, and Lambertville, New Jersey. Click here for a map and directions. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, All credit cards, ApplePay.
  Click here for our Facebook page.
  Click here for our Instagram page.
  Phillips Farms grows and sell their own herb plants, perennials flowers, annual flowers, bedding plants and hanging baskets at its local Farm Market in Milford as well as at the farmers markets they attend.
  (UPDATED: April 08, 2024)
  A visitor writes in June 2006: "The summer would not be complete without at least 6 visits to the Phillips Farm. My 3 children including 3 year old twins love to pick at the farm We start the season with strawberries and end in the fall with apples. The farm is quiet, plentiful and not busy at all. We feel we have the place to ourselves. Mr. Phillips has done a wonderful job raising his crops. Thank you to the Phillips Farm for great family fun and for the fabulous fruit for my pies and jams."
• Schaefer Farms - blackberries, flowers, peas, pumpkins, raspberries, Honey from hives on the farm, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  11051 County Route 523, Flemington, NJ 8822. Phone: 908-782-2705. Email: contact@schaeferfarms.com. Open: see our website for current hours. Directions: . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard.
  Schaefer Farms Facebook page. . Fax: 908-788-8201. . Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October, November, December. thornless blackberries. Our blackberries are ripe and ready for "You Pick" approximately the third week in July, with our red raspberries following in August. If you wish to be notified when a crop is ready for "U Pick", contact us with your email address and we will drop you a line. Facebook page. Summer is the time to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, from our own garden we harvest over 50 varieties of Heirloom and Hybrid Tomatoes. Our fresh produce is picked daily. Jersey Corn is available for the 4th of July weekend. You will be able to enjoy our own home grown Sweet Corn until the October frosts. The farm stand offers milk, butter, cheese and our own eggs. We have candy, chips, snacks, jellies, jams, local honey and ice cream. Enjoy over 100 scents of soy blend candles from our own candle company. Also we grow an extensive, exciting selection of beautiful flowering annuals and perennials for sun and shade. We are offering beautifully arranged patio planters, decorative bowls and hanging baskets.
  Comments from a visitor on September 20, 2011: "They raise most of their crops on the farm. they have friendly farm animals, and employees. they have FREE hayrides with a purchase of a pumpkin in the fall. they also have corn, feed, apples, Indian corn and some vegetables in the fall. they also have a haunted haywagon ride and cornmaze at night. my kids love the haunted haywagon rides at night. then in winter they have an amazing lightshow.and in the farm stand they sell wreaths and trees. they also sell ornaments and hot chocolate. all this and its still a real working farm! All of it is fresh. most of the produce there is picked that day in the morning. although the u-pick berries could be better its still a fun experience!"
• Wessex Hill Farm - Pick Your Own: Raspberries; blackberries
  143 Rosemont Ringoes Road, Stockton, NJ . Phone: (609) 397-2529. Open: Call for dates & times beginning July 15. Directions: Route 20231 south from Flemington to Toad Lane, make a right, farm 1.5 miles on left. . Click here for a map and directions. . Route 202/31 south from Flemington to Toad Lane, make a right, farm 1.5 miles on left.

Sussex County

• Owassa Tree and Berry Farm - blackberries, blueberries, Christmas trees
  144 W. Owassa Turnpike, Frankford Twp., NJ . Phone: . Click here for a map and directions.

Warren County

• Donaldson Farms - Apples, Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, pumpkins; Indian corn; gourds; field-grown flowers
  3345 Allen Road, Mansfield Twp, NJ . Phone: (908) 852-9122. Email: info@donaldsonfarms.net. Open: Daily, April to December, from 9 am to 6 pm. Directions: Hackettstown. We also have Jersey Fresh Cooks cookbook; milk; ice cream; fresh-baked pies; free wagon rides October & June; farm animals. 600 acre farm. There are NO ENTRY FEES, prices are calculated by the pound of what you pick. . Click here for a map and directions.
  Donaldson Farms Facebook page. . . In addition to u-pick, there is pre-picked: Asparagus; melons; peaches; sweet corn; tomatoes; lettuce; complete line of farm fresh produce. Facebook page. - Please call for most current pricing and availability 908-852-9122 x 3.- You must check-in at the farm market before picking your own strawberries and/or raspberries.- Pint containers and flats are available for purchase. If you bring your own container or basket, it will be weighed prior to picking, and when you check out.- Absolutely no paper or plastic shopping bags are allowed in the PYO berry fields.- Picking is always weather and crop condition permitting- sun hats, sunblock, and footwear that can get dirty are recommended.- Please see our crop condition update above, visit our Facebook page, or call us for current conditions before planning your visit.
• Longmeadow Farm - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, hayrides, blackberries, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Autumn, red), snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, school tours
  5561 County Route 521 (blairstown Road), Hope, NJ 7844. Phone: 908 459 5351. Open: raspberries and blackberries are available 7 days a week 9 am to 5 pm in season. Directions: In North Jersey we are 1 mile north of route I 80 at exit 12 on County Route 521. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, WIC Vouchers, SFMNP Vouchers.
  Longmeadow Farm Facebook page. . Pick Your Own raspberries 7 days a week from late July through early October, Pick your own Blackberries 7 days a week from late July through August; The pick your own apple season is on weekends and Monday holidays in September and October; Pick your own pumpkins and gourds, and hayrides through spook hollow on weekends only from the end of September through Halloween. We use integrated pest management practices. Apple picking season at Longmeadow brings new varieties almost every weekend. Our season runs from the first weekend in September through the last weekend in October. Though, sometimes the season can be longer depending on the weather! We are open on those Saturdays and Sundays from 9AM to 5PM. To find what types of apples we have and when they are available, see our apple varieties page. Facebook page. Our apples are our main attraction, but we offer so much more! We also have pick your own pumpkins for Halloween, and our berry patch with raspberries and blackberries. Not to mention our available jams, jellies, and honey. There are also hayrides for the kids, or those just young at heart.Started in 1993, has 15 varieties of apples along with our pumpkins, honey and jams and jellies. The place to go for pick your own- Apples, Raspberries, Pumpkins. We also have Preserves, Fruit Butters and Spreads, Our Own Honey, Cut Your Own Flowers, Sweet corn and assorted Vegetables in season
• Von Thun Farms - apples, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (yellow), raspberries (black), Fresh eggs, porta-potties, picnic area you may bring your own food, inflatables or bounce houses, trike track, pedal kart track, mini-golf, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, group reservations
  428 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ 7882. Phone: (908) 689-3761. Email: cindy@vonthunfarms.com. Open: Strawberries: mid - May thru early June Raspberries: mid - July thru August Blackberries: mid - July thru August Peaches: June, July, August Apples: mid - September thru October, Weekdays, 10am to 6:00pm, Weekends 9am to 5:30pm. Directions: Located between Tractor Supply and Warren County College on Route 57. Accessible from Route 78, Route 46 and Route 31. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx, WIC Vouchers.
  Von Thun Farms Facebook page. . . . We use integrated pest management practices (IPM). With lots of raspberry and blackberry varieties to pick, they're available for picking all summer! There's a fee to pick, but it's deducted from your purchase at checkout. Strawberries will be available for picking, weather permitting, in late May.The availability of our berries depends on the weather and the seasons listed are approximate. Warm days and/or nights ripen the fruit. Cool days and/or nights delay ripening. Always call for current crop availability before heading out to the farm.(UPDATED: June 05, 2019)

 

Blackberry Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

In the U.S. Blackberries typically peak during June in the South, and in July in the North. Crops are ready at various times of the month depending on which part of the state you are located. In order to produce good local Blackberries, producers depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions. See this page for a list of blackberry festivals around the U.S.

Before you leave to go to the farm:

1. Always call before you go to the farm - And when they are in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL first!
2. Leave early.  On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
    
3. Most growers furnish picking containers designed for Blackberries, but they may charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to bring containers.
   If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Blackberries more than 5 inches deep will bruise the lower berries. Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large pots make good containers. I like the Glad storage containers like the one at right.
4. Bring something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it has been rainy.

Tips on How to Pick Blackberries

1. There are two types of blackberries to know about: thorny and thornless! Obviously, the thornless are easier to pick, but some people claim the thorny varieties are sweeter. With the thorny plants, you want to reach into the plant in the gaps, so you don't need to touch anything but the berry you're after, avoiding the thorns.
2. A ripe blackberry is deep black with a plump, full feel. It will pull free from the plant with only a slight tug.  If the berry is red or purple, it's not ripe yet.
3. Repeat these operations using both hands until each holds 3 or 4 berries.Unlike strawberries, blackberries are usually pretty tough, I dump mine into the bucket. Repeat the picking process with both hands.
4. Don't overfill your containers or try to pack the berries down.

General Picking Tips

Whether you pick Blackberries from your garden or at a Pick-Your-Own farm, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Pick only the berries that are fully black. Reach in between the stems to grab for hidden berries ready for harvest. Bend down and look up into the plant and you will find loads of berries that other people missed!
2. Avoid placing the picked berries in the sunlight any longer than necessary. It is better to put them in the shade of a tree or shed than in the car trunk or on the car seat. Cool them as soon as possible after picking. Blackberries may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week, depending upon the initial quality of the berry. After a few days in storage, however, the fruit loses its bright color and fresh flavor and tends to shrivel.

When you get home

1. DON'T wash the berries until you are ready to use them or freeze them.  Washing makes them more prone to spoiling.
2. Pour them out into shallow pans and remove any mushed, soft or rotting berries
3. Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash  off the others, drain them and freeze them up! (Unless you're going to make jam right away) Blackberries are less perishable than blueberries or strawberries, but refrigerate them as soon as possible after picking. Temperatures between 34 F and 38 F are best, but, be careful not to freeze the blackberries (while they are in the fridge)!
4. Even under ideal conditions blackberries will only keep for a week in a refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible after purchase

Blackberry Recipes, Freezing and Jam directions

1. How to make Blackberry jam - It is VERY easy - especially with our free Blackberry jam directions - very easy!
2. How to make Blackberry jelly
3. How to freeze berries
4. Blackberry syrup, make and can it! 
5. Seedless blackberry pie!
6. Blackberry Festivals: Where, When and More to Find an Blackberry Festival Near You this year:

Blackberry Facts and Tips

• Black Raspberries, also known as "black caps" are a very healthy food; packed with anthocyanins!
• The USDA says 1 cup of blackberries has about 62 calories.
• 1 cup of blackberries, not packed down weighs about 140 grams.
• Select plump, firm, fully blackberries. Unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
• Ohio State University's Article Regarding Their Prevention of Cancer
• Oregon Berry Black Raspberry Brochure
• Blackberry tea was said to be a cure for dysentery during the Civil War. During outbreaks of dysentery, temporary truces were declared to allow both Union and Confederate soldiers to "go blackberrying" to forgage for blackberries to ward off the disease.
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout.
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye, having been recommended by Culpeper, the English herbalist, to be boiled in a lye solution in order to "maketh the hair black".
• Guide to blackberry varieties
• Researchers have known for quite some time that berries contain antioxidants which help to fight cancer causing free radicals.  A study at the University of Ohio has found that blackberries are the most potent cancer fighting berries of them all, by nearly 40 percent!
• U-pick Blackberry farms typically sell berries by the pound. A quart equals 1 and 1/2 pounds of fresh berries.
• Do the math and be careful not to over-purchase as Blackberries quickly mold when left at room temperature, and only last a couple of days in the refrigerator.
• You can easily freeze berries that you cannot use right away - just wash, cut the hulls off and pop them into a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible.  Those vacuum food sealers REALLY do a good job of this! The berries will keep for many months frozen without air.
• Want to go to a blackberry festival? See this page for a list!

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