Our listeners' favorite places to pick strawberries in NJ

Pick-your-own strawberry season is coming up. Grab your basket, the kids and get ready to head out to the fields.

Strawberry season is super short for picking, starting in mid-May and lasting through June. In South Jersey, the best time to pick is the end of May and beginning of June, and usually lasts 3-4 weeks, but depending on the weather can last as long as 6 weeks.

North Jersey usually follows South Jersey ripening patterns by one or two weeks.

Source Adobe Stock By Alyona Burchette

Some tips for strawberry picking

You want to look for red berries, strawberries do not continue to ripen after being picked. So if they look good enough to eat at the moment, pick them!

Avoid the berries that have white, yellow or greenish tips. You also want to make sure the strawberries feel firm and plump.

How to pick strawberries

To pick a strawberry, you want to grasp the stem about one inch above the berry. Using your forefinger and thumbnail pull with a slight twisting motion. Let the strawberry roll into your palm, and repeat the picking process until you have 3-4 berries in your hand.

Keep your eye out for our upcoming article from Erin Vogt that will include hours of operation, admission prices and more.

These are some of the best places to pick your own in New Jersey, based on listener suggestions and my suggestions. The list is broken up by North Jersey, South Jersey, Central Jersey and the Jersey Shore.

Original Photo Source Adobe Stock By Sham-ann

Alyson Jasina
Bonacorsi Family Farm in Flemington

Jennifer Roensch Reierson
Bonacorsi Family Farm in Flemington has the best!

Tara Civi
Bonacorsi Family Farm in Flemington, The fruit from there holds up better too...although it doesn't last long before we eat it all.

Source Adobe Stock By Sham-ann

Rishika Goyal
Synder's Farm in Somerset

@TheMeadowsNJ
Synder's Farm on South Middlebush Rd. in Franklin Township! Also best pumpkin picking

Source Adobe Stock By kegfire

Jordan Jansson
Giamarese Farm and Orchards in East Brunswick

Ana Essentiels on Unsplash

Liz Hill
Phillips Farm in Milford

Alyson Jasina
Phillips Farm in Milford

Source Adobe Stock By jinga80

Kerry DiPaolo
Melick's Town Farm in Bridgewater

Farsai Chaikulngamdee on Unsplash

Carol Johnson
Von Thun Farms in Monmouth Junction. So many awesome activities besides the picking!!

Sarah Mason
We love Von Thun Farms in Monmouth Junction

@mompnb
Von Thun Farms in Monmouth Junction

Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Tammy Belz Meyer
Peterson Farm in Flemington

Source Adobe Stock By nd700

Susan M. Kershaw
Terhune Orchards in Princeton

Source Adobe Stock By Gorilla

Original Photo Source Adobe Stock By Sham-ann

Katie Wallace

Alstede Farms in Chester. One of the best parts of the pick your own there is the tractor ride is beautiful.

Joanna Leigh Hali
Alstede Farms in Chester. They have a fantastic hay ride to the field and plenty of activities (and strawberries) to keep kids of all ages happy and engaged! Highly recommended! And if you go during the last weekend in June, you can usually do strawberry and raspberry picking during the same trip!

Source Adobe Stock By Chakorn

Izabella Brooks
Ort Farms in Long Valley. The sweetest most delicious strawberries in the area, possibly the whole state.

Source Adobe Stock By cornfield

@gibwel98
Donaldson Farms in Hackettstown

Source Adobe Stock By famveldman

Jordan Jansson
Farms View Roadstand in Wayne

Liz Caldwell on Unsplash

Jordan Jansson
Stony Hills Farm in Chester

Source Adobe Stock By Evgenia Tiplyashina

Original Photo Source Adobe Stock By Sham-ann

Joanne Pagano
Duffield's Farms in Sewell

Amy Gallo
Duffield's Farms in Sewell

Source Adobe Stock By barmalini

Theresa Marie
Rowand's Farm in Glassboro

Jenn Romano-Baus
Rowand's Farm in Glassboro

Source Adobe Stock By DiedovStock

Jennifer Gates
Chesterfield Organic Orchards in Chesterfield

Source Adobe Stock By Piranhi

Emily Harvey
Specca Farms in Bordentown

Source Adobe Stock By Jari Hindström

Lori Shotlander Oppen
Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford

Sheryl Zaydel
My very favorite is Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford. I take all my grandkids there. We've been going there for 15 years. Such a fun place & the staff is wonderful.

Mike Mac
Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford

Source Adobe Stock By nd700

Lori Shotlander Oppen
Springdale Farms in Cherry Hill

Source Adobe Stock By leungchopan

Original Photo Source Adobe Stock By Sham-ann

Jordan Jansson
Hallock's U-Pick Farm in New Egypt

Rich Smith on Unsplash

Laura Boehner
Sahl's Father Son Farm in Galloway (Egg Harbor City). Love it there!

Source Adobe Stock By nito

Mindy Richman
Battleview Orchards in Freehold

Source Adobe Stock By Werachai Sookruay

Amanda Fierro
Stiles Farm and Nursery in Cape May Court House

Source Adobe Stock By Wojciech Bobrowicz

Lynn Humphrey
Grown in Monmouth in Freehold

Source Adobe Stock By kseniya_mitus

NJ county fairs are back! Check out the 2023 summer schedule

A current list of county fairs happening across the Garden State for 2023. From rides, food, animals, and hot air balloons, each county fair has something unique to offer.

(Fairs are listed in geographical order from South NJ to North NJ)

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant

These are the best hiking spots in New Jersey

A trip to New Jersey doesn't have to be all about the beach. Our state has some incredible trails, waterfalls, and lakes to enjoy.

From the Pine Barrens to the Appalachian Trail to the hidden gems of New Jersey, you have plenty of options for a great hike. Hiking is such a great way to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature, plus it's a great workout.

Before you go out on the trails and explore some of our listeners' suggestions, I have some tips on hiking etiquette from the American Hiking Society.

If you are going downhill and run into an uphill hiker, step to the side and give the uphill hiker space. A hiker going uphill has the right of way unless they stop to catch their breath.

Always stay on the trail, you may see side paths, unless they are marked as an official trail, steer clear of them. By going off-trail you may cause damage to the ecosystems around the trail, the plants, and wildlife that live there.

You also do not want to disturb the wildlife you encounter, just keep your distance from the wildlife and continue hiking.

Bicyclists should yield to hikers and horses. Hikers should also yield to horses, but I’m not sure how many horses you will encounter on the trails in New Jersey.

If you are thinking of bringing your dog on your hike, they should be leashed, and make sure to clean up all pet waste.

Lastly, be mindful of the weather, if the trail is too muddy, it's probably best to save your hike for another day.

I asked our listeners for their suggestions of the best hiking spots in New Jersey, check out their suggestions:

Gallery Credit: Jordan Jansson