Few things say summer in Morris County like a warm afternoon spent filling a basket with fruit you picked yourself. From peaches and berries in July to apples and pumpkins in the fall, the county’s family farms turn a grocery run into a whole day out. Here is our local guide to the best farms in Morris County for pick-your-own, fresh produce, and a little fun on the way home.
Alstede Farms, Chester
Alstede Farms at 1 Alstede Farms Lane in Chester is the county’s pick-your-own heavyweight, with fields open daily and a rotating harvest that shifts through the season. Depending on the week you might pick strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, flowers, and vegetables, and the farm posts a “what can I pick today” list so you know before you go. Beyond the fields there are hayrides, farm animals, a corn maze in the fall, and a well-stocked farm store.
Wightman Farms, Morristown
A working farm for more than a century, Wightman Farms at 1111 Mount Kemble Avenue in Morristown keeps its farm market open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pick-your-own runs on weekends when the fruit is ready, with peaches in mid to late summer and apples in the fall. Do not leave without a bag of the farm’s fresh baked goods and cider donuts.
Ort Farms, Long Valley
Ort Farms at 25 Bartley Road in Long Valley is a fourth-generation farm with a market open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and plenty of family activities through the seasons. Summer brings fresh-picked produce and cut flowers, while the fall fires up the corn maze, hayrides, and pumpkin picking. The barnyard animals are a hit with younger kids year round.
Stony Hill Farms, Chester
With two Chester locations, Stony Hill Farms at 15 North Road pairs pick-your-own fields with a full slate of seasonal festivals. Summer highlights include acres of sunflowers and u-pick produce, plus family favorites like the corn maze and mega slide on festival weekends. It is a reliable pick when you want the picking and the activities in one stop.
Riamede Farm, Chester
Tucked at 122 Oakdale Road in Chester, Riamede Farm is a quieter, old-school pick-your-own experience best known for its apple orchard. Earlier in the summer the fields offer things like shelling peas, radishes, zucchini, and sunflowers, and the farm is a longtime favorite for apple picking once the trees are ready in late summer and fall.
When to pick what
Timing is everything with pick-your-own. Strawberries peak in late spring, blueberries and peaches run through the heart of summer, and apples and pumpkins take over in September and October. Because the harvest changes week to week and weather can close a field, it is always worth checking a farm’s website or social media before you drive out.
Want more ways to enjoy the season outdoors? See our guides to where to see sunflower fields in Morris County and free things to do in Morris County this summer.
