It's strawberry season: Here's where to pick them in Central Jersey
Strawberries in the Garden State are readying for their short-lived closeup.
Though the New Jersey strawberry season is only from late May to June, there are plenty of Central Jersey fields to fill a basket or two.
Here are some tips:
If unsure where to pick, just ask − staff members can point you in the right direction for the best berries.
Bring a hat, sunscreen and water bottle because it gets hot in the field.
Walk slowly through the fields to avoid damage to berries.
Check under the leaves of plants as strawberries hide under leaves.
Pick berries that are entirely red − no white tips! Only solid red berries are completely ripe. Partially white, or unripe berries will not ripen once picked.
Call or check the farm's website before making a plan to go − it's hard to target the exact date strawberries are ripe for picking.
Strawberries 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 – wash, let dry and lay flat in a freezer storage bag.
If you can't eat all the strawberries fresh, preserve them by making jam or sauce, or freeze them.
Here's where to go for your day at the farm.
With two spots for strawberries and no entrance fee, Bonacorsi Family Farm in Frenchtown is an affordable and accessible option for strawberry picking.
The strawberry picking season starts here in early June.
For pick-your-own strawberries, head to the Frenchtown location. There also is a self-serve stand in Flemington. This farm accepts cash or checks only and provides containers.
Go: 662 Pittstown Road, Frenchtown; 1137 Croton Road, Flemington; bonacorsifamilyfarm.com.
Strawberries make their appearance at Giamarese Farm and Orchards in East Brunswick in late May. The farm offers strawberry varieties including Cabot, Chandler, Daroyal, Darselect, Mayflower, Rutgers Scarlet, Sunset and Wendy.
Giamarese Farm and Orchards is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Arrive at least 90 minutes before closing.
Go: 155 Fresh Ponds Road, East Brunswick; 732-821-9494, giamaresefarm.com/pick-your-own.html.
Although it has several locations, Melick's Town Farm in Oldwick is where it's at for strawberries.
The pick-your-own season begins in mid-May and features the Chandler strawberry variety.
Reservations open daily at 4 p.m. for the next day after the ripening berry supply is evaluated. The farm is open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday.
Go: 170 Oldwick Road, Oldwick; 908-439-2318, melickstownfarm.com/strawberries/.
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Peterson Family Farm, a three-generation farm in Flemington, will open the first week in June and offer strawberry varieties Galletta, Flavorfest, Cabot and AC Valley Sunset.
Strawberry picking trays and carriers are available for $1 or bring your own. Repeat customers who previously used the farm's picking trays can wipe them out and re-use them.
Pick-your-own strawberries are $4.50 per pound, and farm-picked berries are $8.50 per quart. There is no entrance fee into the fields.
Go: 438 Quakertown Road, Flemington; 908-782-1682 or 908-878-7303, petersonfarm.net/u-pick/.
The six-generation Phillips Farms has two locations, but pickers will find strawberries only available at the farm market location on Route 519. The pick-your-own season starts in early June.
Entry and parking are free, with a $5 minimum picking fee per person. All fruit is sold by the pound. Only Phillips Farms buckets are allowed (buy new or bring yours from last year) for picking. Buckets can be purchased at check-in.
Call the pick-your-own recorded information line at 908-995-0022 before visiting for a daily recording of the most up-to-date picking availability and information. The farm market location is open 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. everyday.
Go: 564 Milford-Warren Glen Road (Route 519), Milford; 908-628-9251, phillipsfarms.com.
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Many varieties of strawberries are available for picking at Snyder's Farm in Somerset, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last car in at 3 p.m.) on weekends only. Or, check their Facebook and Instagram pages to find out about mid-week pop up dates. Strawberry-picking season begins mid-to-late May.
Admission is $5 per person, which includes a wagon ride to the field. The field fee for children under 2 is free. Pay for what you pick in cash only, but there is an ATM onsite.
With free quarts containers that hold about one pound of strawberries, the farm also sells $2 flat boxes. Visitors can also bring their own containers. While here, try their homemade strawberry ice cream.
Go: 586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset; 732-496-0441, snyders-farm.com.
A five-generation working family farm, the you-pick strawberry season at VonThun Farms in South Brunswick will begin around mid-May but call first as crop conditions can change. The season runs through mid-June.
Picking hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last admission a half-hour before closing. Cost is $3 per person.
The farm will host strawberry festivals May 31-June 1 and June 7-9 with hay rides, animals, food trucks, activities and games, face painting and strawberry picking. The last admission to the strawberry festival will be sold at 4 p.m.
The farm market also features strawberry-themed items such as jams, jellies, preserves and salad dressings.
Go: 519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction; 732-329-8656, vonthunfarms.com.
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email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features, news and education reporter forMyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or@CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Pick your own strawberries at these 7 Central Jersey farms
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