Labor Day ceremoniously marks the end of summer and beginning of the fall season for us, although the calendar doesn’t note the official start of autumn until September 22nd. When the screechy hum of the cicadas fills the air, the winds rustle the changing leaves on the trees, and the skies turn cloudy all day, it certainly feels like fall: time for family outings to the orchards near us for apple-picking and fun in the country.

We enjoy visiting Demarest Farms in Hillsdale, NJ in Bergen County – not because it is exceptionally fancy, but because it does a great job offering the basics of peach, apple and pumpkin picking. Beginning with a hayride past the peach trees to the apple orchard to pick apples, then off for cider and donuts back at the store, as well as a made-from-scratch soup and salad bar (some say the best in the county, made with homegrown vegetables and fruits), dried fruits, homemade ice cream, pies, decorations and treats to peruse during your visit. Demarest Farms has the experience down pat . . . and they should, considering that they’ve been offering apple-picking and hayrides for over 30 years, and have been an operating farm for nearly 125 years.

Demarest Farms is located near Route 17, about a half-hour drive from the GW Bridge. On weekends (and holidays), it costs $5 per person for the hayride through the orchards (kids under 2 ride free), and $7 per bag of apples. Each bag holds 12-15 pounds of apples.  During the week, the days are reserved for groups with hayrides and apple-picking open to the public from 3-4:30 p.m. daily, and at the deep discount of $5 per person and free bags. The store is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

So if the sound of simultaneous crunches from others biting into their just-picked apples is calling you, or maybe the sweet smells that attract the late-season bees to the fallen apples and sticky cider spills entices you, then perhaps we’ll see you at Demarest Farms this fall.

Demarest Farms

244 Wierimus Road

Hillsdale, NJ 07642

201-666-0472