Baristanet Fall Special Section

Harvest Update - Pretty Apples, Ugly Pumpkins

The apple harvest is so exceptional this season (larger, sweeter), that you'd better bring as many hands as you can to pick your own. New Jersey apples boasts 20 varieties to choose from, but this year's perfect crop has actually resulted in a cider shortage. The seasonal brew is typically made from the ugly apples, with pockmarks and blemishes - which are in short supply this year.

But thatâ€™s not the case for pumpkin growers. The Star Ledger reports a difficult growing season has produced patches of unhappy pumpkins./>

Apples, pumpkins, and letâ€™s not forget the amazing corn mazes â€“ hereâ€™s a selection of readersâ€™ favorites and then some. But donâ€™t wait for the weekends, many of these farms are right for the pickinâ€™s on weekdays too.

Wightman's Farms in Morristown, is relatively close-by. Apple and pumpkin picking, hayride, corn maze, and lots of other fun stuff for the family.

Ort Farms in Long Valley on Bartley/Chester Rd off 513 is large and lots of fun for younger kids. They have animals to pet, cider and donuts and wagon rides through the pumpkin fields - pick your own. Directions: Rt. 80 W to Exit 27A, Rt. 206 S to 1st light after McDonalds, Right on Bartley-Chester Rd. 1 mi. 1st left on Bartley Rd. 3 mi. on Right. (908) 876-3351 Open: Daily through Dec. 24, 9 am - 7 pm.

Riamede Farm, 122 Oakdale Rd., Chester is good for apple picking. Turn off 513 near the old public house building in Chester and follow the signs. For more info, click here.

Heaven Hill Farm, on Route 94 in Vernon, has a 40-acre pumpkin patch open daily for picking, and a weekend carnival. Haunted hayrides Friday and Saturday. Apples and cider for sale, cornstalk maze, hay crawl, giant bee hive, pig racing, picnic area, and while youâ€™re there, pick your Halloween costume at the shop. 973-764-444; Heaven Hill Farm

Wilklow Orchards in Ulster County, NY. is 2 hours away, and a reader describes the setting â€œbreathtaking,â€ besides having â€œthe best apple cider donuts, made fresh all day long.â€

Matarazzo Farms, 216 Mountain Avenue, North Caldwell, is open seven days for pumpkin picking, hay rides, castle bounce, cider, farm animals, and a farmerâ€™s market. 973-226-3289.

Fairfield Farms, 177 Big Place Road, Fairfield. Harvest fair, corn maze, hay rides, pony rides, country store, and more. 973-227-1011.

Melick Farm, Route 513, Califon, is Northern New Jerseyâ€™s largest apple grower. Pick your own Macoun, Cortland, and Empire apples daily. Free horse drawn wagon rides on the weekends, and a farmerâ€™s market. 908-832-2905.

A-Mazing Corn Maze
Stony Hill Farm Market, 15 North Road, Chester, hopes families will try "Space Exploration," the farm's corn maze adventure Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 28. Flashlight Nights are after dark Fridays-Saturdays. The maze has 10,000 feet of pathways cut through 300,000 cornstalks. This year's theme features the shapes of an astronaut, a space ship and a globe of the world. Also: hay rides to the pumpkin patch, rope and tile mazes, feedable farm animals and new play area. $10; $9 ages 4-12. Call (908) 879-2908.

Terhune Orchards, Cold Soil Road, Princeton, offers Fall Family Fun Weekends Saturday and Sundays throughout October from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pick your own apples, pony and wagon rides and live music. Visit here.

Want more? To keep searching for the perfect pumpkin patch or apple orchard, try this.

Posted by Annette Batson on October 10, 2006 10:22 AM | Permalink

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Harvest Update - Pretty Apples, Ugly Pumpkins

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