Peaches, peaches everywhere and plenty to do with them! Peach pie, peach cobbler, peach ice cream, and just eating peaches.
There’s plenty to do at Alstede Farms in Chester, N.J. too. It’s one of my favorite day trips in summer and fall. Alstede is less than an hour’s drive from Verona and each year the farm does more and more to make it a great day.
This time of year, you can pick your own raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches as well as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Last year we picked strawberries also. As fall approaches there will be pumpkins and apples for picking as well. Alstede uses safe practices in maintaining and protecting its produce and avoids pesticides at all costs.
Alstede operates a little differently than other pick-your-own farms. From Monday through Thursday, admission to the picking area is free. I like to avoid the crowds and go then. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there’s a $5 per person fee for everyone over age 2 who enters the picking area, which includes a hayride to the picking area. That fee is deducted from the cost of the produce you pick, which right now ranges from$1.79 for peaches to $6.69 per pound for blueberries and blackberries. The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. The list of what’s available for picking is here, but the farm recommends calling ahead at 908-879-7189 to check picking conditions. (Alstede does not allow dogs into the picking areas, so it’s probably best to leave your pet at home.)
Not one to pick your own? Alstede offers the Highlands Harvest Club CSA where you can buy a weekly share of the fruits and vegetables the farm has available for harvest. Unlike some other CSAs, however, you must pick up your share on the farm. If you are not into picking your own food, but your kids think it would be fun, Alstede offers a farm day camp for kids. The cost ranges from $385 to $495 per week, gives kids the opportunity to see where food really comes from and how to care for and work with farm animals–an experience unknown to many of us. Additionally, Alstede has tables at many farmers markets in the area if you are not up for the drive.
Alstede Farms is open year-round (the full calendar is here) and if you think you’re going to be visiting frequently, you might want to consider the farm’s Fun Pass. It costs $69.99 per child, which includes admission to all farm activities from pony rides and hayrides to the fall corn maze, and you get one free adult admission for every paid child.
