The Top 10 Spots to Go Berry Picking in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

The best places to go blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry picking in NY, NJ, and CT.

By Alison Leighton June 3, 2021

There are many reasons why summer is the best time of year–not least of which is the abundance of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, and more you can find to pick in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Berry picking is one of the most fun family activities when the season rolls around. When your children are small it is absolutely adorable to watch them learn how to pick the fruit and have fun filling up a little container, while also teaching them about where we get our food. It’s an easy activity for them to do as they are basically the same height as the plant! Have a blast with older children by trying out new fruit recipes afterward. Don’t forget sunscreen, your bottle of water, good shoes for walking on uneven ground, and some cash in case a farm doesn’t have an ATM. Some farms even have strawberry festivals to celebrate the summer fruit!

A tip before you head out: Always be sure to check with a farm in advance by calling or checking out its website or social media to find out what’s in season and what’s still available. Ask about their current COVID-19 guidelines and you may want to double check admission costs as some places charge admission fees while others just charge for the weight by fruit.

Read on to learn about 10 of the best places to go strawberry picking in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Berry Picking in NY

1. Garden of Eve Farm

4558 Sound Ave., Riverhead
631-722-8777
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Hours: Through Oct. 31: daily, 9am-6pm (hours for the farm and the U-Pick time slots); call ahead to make sure berries are available at the day and time you plan to come. Berry picking ends July 16.
Admission: $9.95; free for children younger than 2. Fee does not include the cost of berries.

This organic farm is dedicated to providing delicious organic vegetables and fruits. It’s one of the only certified organic U-pick fields on Long Island and it offers other fun activities too! U-pick fruits and veggies are subject to availability (call ahead to confirm what's available). Strawberries are available through the end of June, blueberries are available beginning in late June, and blackberries are available starting mid-July. Admission includes unlimited access to U-pick organic field and the Family Fun Fields, which include unlimited hayrides (Saturday-Sunday, 11am-4pm), pedal karts, hay tower, farm animals, spider web, live music, and more.

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2. Ochs Orchard

4 Ochs Lane, Warwick
845-986-1591
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Hours: Farm Market: daily, 9am-5:30pm; pick your own: not announced yet
Admission: Rates for 2021 have not been announced yet.

This farm has a large diversity of fruits and vegetables you can pick. Mid-June kicks off the pick-your-own season with strawberries, and in July there are peaches, blueberries, raspberries and plums. August has tomatoes, peaches, peppers, eggplant, raspberries, nectarines, apricots and plums. Visitors are advised to always call ahead to find out what’s still available because the site isn’t always immediately updated. Be sure to check out the Farm Market with delicious goods made from the farm’s produce and veggies like jams & jellies, pure maple syrup, butters, apple cider, honey and more.

3. Patty’s Berries and Bunches

410 Sound Ave., Mattituck
631-655-7996
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Hours: daily, 9am-5pm
Admission: Free; $7.50 per basket for U-pick fruit.

This farm offers a variety of seasonal U-Pick fruit options starting in June with strawberries, then raspberries and blueberries in July, and blackberries in August. Call before visiting to find out availability. There are a number of beautiful flower bunches you can purchase as well. Be sure to stop at The Ice Cream Patch, the farm’s ice cream stand, and indulge in seasonal ice cream made from the farm’s own fruits. You can also enjoy other family-friendly activities, such as walking the flower fields, seeing sculptures and other works of art across the farm, enjoying live music, or participating in a variety of classes.

Berry Picking in NJ

1. Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ
908-879-7189
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Hours: Pick Your Own: daily, 9am-6pm; last entry is 5pm. Farm store: daily, 9am-7pm.
Admission: $9.99 entry, plus 1 quart; $6.99 additional quarts; $49.99 entry, plus 6 quarts; $44.99 additional 6 quarts. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the website.

Pick-your-own strawberries are in season through June, while blueberries and raspberries are in season at the end June through July, and blackberries will be available mid-August. Plus, there are lots of activities to keep your children happy, such as pony rides and a seasonal maze (the evergreen maze is open now, while the corn and sunflower mazes will open later in the summer). This is an easy farm to visit from the city if you don’t have a car: You can take New Jersey Transit to the Gladstone Station and arrange for a FREE shuttle service. As a result of COVID, you now must pre-purchase a PYO ticket for a specific time slot online. Each guest that enters the fields has to have a ticket with them that includes an entry fee, a container, the value of fruit associated with filling the container, and wagon rides to and from the fields. Before you leave, make sure you try some homemade ice cream from the stand made with the farm’s own freshly picked fruits. Check Alstede Farm’s harvest schedule to figure out the best time to pick the fruit you want. If you like the farm, be sure to check it out again in the fall for apples and pumpkin picking.

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2. Johnson's Corner Farm

133 Church Road, Medford, NJ
609-654-8643
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Hours: Pick Your Own: Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm; Evening U Pick: Wednesday and Friday, 5-7pm
Admission: $5 Monday-Friday; $6 Saturday-Sunday; free for children younger than 1. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Additionally, all picked farm produce will be weighed and paid for by count or weight as you exit the u-pick experience.

“Planting Seeds, Harvesting Memories.” With a cute motto like that, how can you resist checking it out? Johnson’s Corner Farm has seasonal fruit picking, such as strawberries from mid-May to mid-June (estimated dates), along with cherries, blueberries, snap peas, string beans, and radishes in other seasons. Visitors are advised to check out the farm’s Facebook page to find out what’s currently available. Plus, kids will enjoy the hayrides, ice cream and other family fun activities (at an additional cost) such as the Discovery Barnyard and Animal Farm, which includes a fun splash pad for children and the opportunity to feed some farm animals.

3. Von Thun’s Country Farm Market

519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ
732-329-8656
438 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ
732-986-6816
Admission: $3; free for children ages 2 and younger, plus picking containers: $5 pint; $7 quart; $25 bucket
Hours: daily, 9am-5pm; reservations required on weekends.
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Von Thun’s has two farms in NJ, each with “u-pick” activities and on-site farm markets that sell its delicious varieties of produce. During the summer months, the South Brunswick location lets you pick strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, while the Washington location offers strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and peaches. It also hosts Strawberry Festivals and Fall Festivals. The farm suggests always calling for current availability before heading out.

4. Terhune Orchards

330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton NJ
609-924-2310
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Hours: Daily, 9am-5pm (blueberries not available for picking Mondays throughout the season)
Admission: Call before you visit to find out the latest pricing for the season. Strawberries: $4 minimum charge per person ages 3 and older paid before you enter the patch. This will get credited to the final amount picked at the end.

This farm has seasonal you-pick fruits and veggies, call ahead to confirm availability. Ripe strawberries are available late May through early June, cherries (sweet and sour) and blueberries are ready mid-June, and blackberries are available in July. Call the farm store or check the Pick-Your-Own Schedule to check availability—each season brings a slightly different timing. Families can visit the farm animals in the barnyard and enjoy the children’s play area. The orchards also have a winery, family activities, and a full calendar of events like a winery music series, Kite Day, and “Read & Pick” events for children. You can also find fresh pressed cider, pies, and other homemade goodies at their country-style Farm Store.

Berry Picking in CT

1. Jones Family Farms

606 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton, CT
203-929-8425
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Hours: Strawberry season: Monday-Saturday, 8am-5:30pm; Sunday, 8am-12pm. Blueberry season: Tuesday-Saturday, 8am-5:30pm
Admission: Admission to the farm is free, and berries are purchased by the pound. If you recycle your old Jones Family Farm berry boxes, you’ll receive a discount per pound.

The strawberry picking season starts mid-June at this Farm and winery, and lasts into the end of June, sometimes early July. Blueberries are typically available in early to mid-July and usually last until mid-August. The Jones Family has owned the farm for more than 150 years and claims to have one of the finest harvest-your-own picking experiences due to its high-quality crops and the knowledgeable, friendly farmers. The website warns that hours can change during the season due to weather and picking conditions. Visitors are asked to always call the Crop Report at 203-929-8425 before you come to verify the hours, picking conditions, and picking location. The farm has some safety recommendations for picking fruit, which you’ll want to check out before you go; it suggests the proper footwear, a hat, sunscreen, bringing your own water bottle, and more.

2. Silverman’s Farm

451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT
203-261-3306
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Hours: Pick Your Own: daily, 9am-4:30pm (when fruits are in season). Farm Market and Animal Farm: daily 9am-5pm.
Admission: Pre-purchased bags are required before entering the orchard.

This farm has fruit picking, an Animal Farm, and a County Market with jellies, cheeses, pies, and more. The beginning of July is the kick off to the berry picking season. Raspberries and blueberries will be ready at that time, and peach picking begins in mid-July. While the farm doesn’t offer strawberry and blackberry picking, it does sell Silverman’s home-grown strawberries and blackberries at the Farm stand.Plus, children can visit the Animal Farm to feed and pet buffalo, llamas, alpacas, deer, and more (there is an admission fee), and during the summer the Animal Farm hosts story and craft times (free with paid admission).

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3. Evergreen Berry Farm

435 Bassett Road, Watertown, CT
860-274-0825
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Hours: Daily, 8am-8pm during peak season (typically July-August). Call or Facebook for current hours and berry updates!
Admission: Blueberries: $5.99 per pound; $3.99 per pound over 9 pounds. Raspberries: $7.99 per pound. Containers are provided or bring your own.

Evergreen Berry Farm is organically managed with special attention to soil biology and nutrition—a real ecological gem! Use this as an educational lesson for your children while you visit. Pick-your-own berry seasons run July-August for blueberries and early to mid-July for Black raspberries. When you visit, be sure to check out their fresh seltzers and iced teas made with the farm’s very own berries, herbs, and flowers.

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