Summer Kicks Off at Von Thun Farms

Von Thun Farms, located in Monmouth Junction, will have its first summer weekend this Saturday and Sunday. The farm, which will feature U-pick crops and fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers all summer, is a fun spot to go to with the family and kids.

Located on Ridge Road, the farm has been in operation since 1913 and has seen five generations of the Von Thun family. Currently available for U-pick are raspberries and blueberries.

My daughters and I picked some earlier this week, and we were able to pick enough for a few bowls of raspberries and a number of glasses worth of ice-cold smoothies. (To make our smoothies, we simply combined some strawberry-banana yogurt with some crushed ice, a few raspberries, a tiny bit of water and a banana, but I am sure there are better recipes out there, as we just winged it.)

Before or after picking berries, kids can stop by and pet some of the farm animals that are in front of the farm. The animals were quite friendly when we visited, and eagerly walked over (probably looking for food, which guests aren’t allowed to give to the animals).

Children may also enjoy visiting the farm’s country market (housed in a barn), where there are various fruits, vegetables and Von Thun Farms jams and jellies. I always let my daughters pick out some flowers in the summer for our patio planters in the backyard, and had planned to let them pick some out from the multiple varieties available in the farm’s greenhouse, but we were running out of time.

So we’ll have to come back again for another fun visit, and maybe your family can stop by the farm this weekend for an enjoyable day, too.