Farm Blog Archives - Page 10 of 19

U-Pick at Von Thun’s

on May 27, 2020

Socially Distanced Picking 2020 … Reservations Encouraged!

Our u-pick berry fields are open daily, Tuesday through Sunday. Fields are CLOSED ON MONDAYS for field maintenance and to let the berries replenish and ripen after the weekend.

The Berries …

*STRAWBERRIES: (Available in both South Brunswick & Washington, NJ) The season has ended.

*BLUEBERRIES: (Available in South Brunswick only) The season has ended.

*RASPBERRIES: (Available in Washington, NJ only) We’re in between varieties but have some available. Call the farm market before coming for up-to-date picking conditions!

*BLACKBERRIES: (Available in both South Brunswick & Washington, NJ) Picking now!

Although most folks are most familiar with our South Brunswick farm location, please note that our Washington location is only an hour away from South Brunswick … consider checking out our Washington location in beautiful Warren County and experience our Sunflower Trail … you won’t be disappointed!

Reservations are encouraged & are listed daily …

Reservations are encouraged to help speed up your check-in process and let us know how many people to expect on a given day. If a you don’t see a reservation available for the day you’re looking to come, please call the farm market and our staff can give you a crop update before you arrive.

The Details …

Customer and employee safety is a top priority at VonThun’s, and our current u-pick policies and procedures are structured to maintain that during these challenging times. Reservations are encouraged to pick berries. If you don’t have a reservation, your group may be asked to wait until some pickers leave the field to accommodate social distancing.

All pickers are required to use a farm issued picking container. No outside containers will be allowed.

Our farm market, greenhouse, and picking fields are considered an essential business and are open. Unfortunately, our picnic, activity, and barnyard areas must remain closed at this time. Please support us as we implement the NJ COVID-19 Executive Orders that we are mandated to follow in order to remain open.

Please keep in mind that weather conditions and demand determine our daily berry supply, which is certainly challenging to predict. The weather, available crops to pick and picking conditions at both farm locations may differ.

CLICK HERE FOR RESERVATIONS

Pricing …

To limit contact, berries will not be sold by the pound and we will not weigh containers. All berries will be “prepaid” in containers provided by staff at check in. Additional containers can be purchased as long as there’s crop availability.

$3.00 Picking Pass per person (kids 2 & under are free)

Blackberry Containers (South Brunswick & Washington)

$6/pint
$11/quart

Raspberry Containers (Washington Only)

$6/pint
$11/quart

Daily U-Pick Field Hours

10 am – 5 pm, last ticket sold for 4pm picking.

Reservation time slots & tickets available will vary on a daily basis, due to weather & picking conditions. Reservations are strongly encouraged. If your group arrives without a reservation, you may be asked to wait until some pickers leave the field so everyone can comfortably socially distance.

Please Note …

Our farm market, greenhouse, and picking fields are considered essential business and are open while our picnic, activity, and barnyard areas must remain closed. We appreciate your support in helping us implement the NJ COVID-19 Executive Orders that we are mandated to follow.

Picking reservations can be made via our website. Simply choose your time slot & purchase pre-paid containers. Pickers are encouraged to have a picking reservation.
If you’re sick, don’t come out to pick. DO NOT visit if you are ill, have a cough, or fever.
Via Executive Order, all pickers age 3 and older are asked to wear a facemask/face covering while in the farm market and while entering the picking field. This is not a VonThun’s rule, this is a mandated NJ state rule.
NO REFUNDS will be offered. We have made an appropriate number of containers available based on the ripe berries in the field. You may have to look a little to fill your container, but we promise – they’re out there!
No personal containers are allowed in the field, only prepaid containers received at check-in.
Entrance to the fields are separate from our Farm Market. Look for signs to the u-pick field. Please do NOT park at the farm market.
When you arrive at the u-pick field our staff will check your reservation, review safety procedures, hand out pre-paid picking containers, and show you where to pick. Pickers are expected to maintain proper social distancing while in the u-pick field.
Hand sanitizer, hand wash stations, & porta potties are in the vicinity of the picking fields.

And …

For the safety of all visitors please do not eat the fruit while you pick. Masks should remain on.
If you touch it, you take it. Please don’t touch the fruit you do not intend to purchase.
We will not weigh containers at the end of your picking. Instead it’s one price for what you pick in your pre-paid container.
NO PETS except documented service dogs are allowed on the farm.
Parents are asked to supervise children to maintain proper social distance during their visit.
U-pick fields are open rain or shine. If severe weather occurs we will clear the fields until the storm passes.
Staff will be in the field to monitor that visitors are following the above safety protocols. Visitors not following these protocols will be reminded to follow directions or may asked to leave the farm. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable, safe experience for all!
Although each reservation time slot allows for an hour of picking, filling containers is usually pretty quick. We encourage folks to exit the field when done picking & containers are filled. Please, no hanging around in the field if done picking.
No picnics, eating, or wandering the farm, as those farm areas are mandated to be closed to the general public.
There are garbage cans located all around the farm. Please use them. Dispose of used masks, gloves, paper towels, diapers, etc. responsibly.
Our farm animals sure do miss you, but unfortunately the barnyard area must remain closed until permitted to open without regulation.

Be sure to visit our farm market!

Missing your VonThun farm favorites? Our farm market is open! (face masks & social distancing required) Not quite ready to shop in person? Just coordinate your berry picking with our no contact barnside order pick up! Visit our online store now

MMMM… fresh produce, raw local honey, farm fresh eggs, homemade apple cider donuts & kettle corn, meat pies, jams, salsas, & LOTS MORE!

Thank you for bearing with us during these unprecedented times. They’re as challenging for us as they are for you … maybe even more as we do our best to accommodate all comfort levels while trying to provide an opportunity for the special family experience and memories we all really seem to need.

And THANK YOU for your continued support! We hope to see you out at the farm again soon … as we’re certain that there’s sunny days ahead!

Online Store

on April 6, 2020

Our new ONLINE STORE is currently open for fresh produce packs, fruit packs, homegrown Angus beef, raw local honey, spring vegetable gardening plants and more. AND, new items are listed frequently!

Tuesday and Friday are pick up days at the farm in South Brunswick (Middlesex County).
Wednesday and Saturday are pick up days at our farm in Washington, NJ (Warren County).
All orders must be pre-ordered via the ONLINE STORE and picked up between 1 – 5 p.m.

We will try to post photos on our Facebook page each week to show what we ANTICIPATE to be included in that week’s packs, but we can not guarantee any specific items in the packs, and we cannot personalize packs. All produce included in our produce packs is subject to change due to availability. All produce and fruit packs will be packed alike to minimize the amount of handling.

If the ONLINE STORE will not let you add a specific item to your cart, it is sold out. Check back at another time, as additional quantities may be come available. AND, new items are listed frequently!

New anticipated online store items include baked goods, plant fertilizer, and additional vegetable and herb plants.

All orders will be picked up barnside, no contact since our farm market is currently closed. Just pull up, tell us your name, we’ll load your car, & you’re on your way within minutes! Visit our online store to place your order now!

Farm to Fork

on June 26, 2019

Know your farmers, know your food. But how many of us actually do? With most of us living life in the fast lane, it’s much more convenient to pick up meat and produce at the grocery store than to go out of our way to stop at a farm market. Truth is, most of the meat and produce purchased in the supermarket has traveled thousands of miles before it gets to our dinner plate. We have no idea WHO grew our food, or WHERE it came from.

Our First Annual Summertime Farm to Fork Dinner brings our farmers together with the community. It allows us to answer questions, and helps you understand where your food comes from. It’s no surprise that food coming direct to the farm is fresh, healthy, and yes, LOCAL!

The Farm to Fork Dinner being held on Saturday, August 17^th at VonThun Farms, Washington, located in beautiful Warren County, is designed to showcase our homegrown beef and vegetables together while providing an enjoyable evening and farm experience for all.

Our farmers take a genuine approach to sustainable farming on two family operated NJ farms. VonThun’s Farm located in South Brunswick, Middlesex County, has been in the VonThun family since 1913. One of the few remaining farms in the area, Bobby and Tim are the 4^th & 5^th generation to farm that land where our homegrown produce, everything from apples to zucchini, is grown.

Our VonThun Farms, Washington location was purchased in 2015 and is home to our herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Our cows are born and raised here on the farm in lush green pastures. Although their diet is primarily grass and our own hay, they do receive some homegrown corn each morning as a treat to encourage their visit to the fence line for a daily health check. Our cows are raised happy and healthy, making our meat all natural and free of hormones and antibiotics.

Although our dinner menu is still being developed, it will include 8-10 small plate servings of short ribs, filet mignon, and other beef cuts. Vegetable servings will include our delicious homegrown crops such as heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, red & golden beet saute, and roasted pepper risotto. And our fresh peach berry dessert will be sure to please!

Chef Kelly Carroll of Hackensack, NJ assures us that a vegetarian menu can be accommodated for folks not interested in the homegrown beef servings.

Our summer dinner event includes a hayride tour of the farm, including a brief stop to meet the cows and calves of our Angus beef herd. Guests are also welcome to wander our beautiful 4 acre Sunflower Trail if they choose, and cut sunflowers to take home. The dinner will be held under a tent in our scenic orchard breezeway. Dress is casual and comfortable. The dinner is BYOB, beer and wine only, please.

We invite you to join us and experience our homegrown deliciousness and farm beauty. Tickets are only $110 per person and can be purchased now. Seating is limited so be sure to get your tickets soon!