Autumn in New Jersey means apples, pumpkins and fun
Autumn in New Jersey means apples, pumpkins and fun
With a nickname like The Garden State, it’s no surprise that New Jersey is a popular destination for excellent fresh produce. As the calendar turns from summer to fall, farms in New Jersey will be shifting from warm weather staples like berries and peaches to those items that make autumn such a special time of the year.
That includes apples. While people may first think of states like Washington, Michigan and New York when it comes to apples, New Jersey growers provide delicious apples. The season starts in mid-August and continues into November. During the fall, farms and farmstands sell apples of all sorts of varieties, and of course, apple picking is a classic activity once the temperatures start dropping and the leaves start falling.
The oldest apple variety grown in New Jersey is the Winesap, which is lesser-known than other apples, but has a devoted following. It has a slightly tougher skin than other varieties and its mix of sweetness and tartness makes it perfect as a snack and for cooking and baking.
Other popular apples that are grown in New Jersey include Cameos, Fujis, Galas, Pink Ladies, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith. Farms and farm stores in New Jersey are popular destinations in the fall, as many sell not only apples, but also their own ciders, apple cider donuts and cakes. Of course, once Thanksgiving comes around, people flock to these businesses for their apple pies.
Fall wouldn’t be fall without pumpkins. According to a study by Rutgers University, New Jersey has more than 2,500 acres of pumpkin farmland, and accounts for 5 percent of the nation’s pumpkins. Consumers tend to use pumpkins in two ways. First, there are decorative pumpkins, which are easier to carve and are used to make jack-o-lanterns, or placed whole in yards and on porches.
More flavorful pumpkin varieties are used to make pies, cookies, cakes and the ever-popular pumpkin bread. Pumpkin is also popular in savory dishes, like soups and stews, that are perfect for chilly fall nights, as well as pasta dishes and sauces.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture promotes the Garden State’s produce through its well-known Jersey Fresh initiative, which includes its famous red and green logo with a map of New Jersey. When shoppers see that logo, they know they are buying Jersey-grown fruits and vegetables.
New Jersey growers provide consumers with more than 100 different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs, making it a top ten producer of blueberries, peaches, Bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn and cranberries. The Jersey Fresh website notes that the state has nearly 10,000 farms, covering more than 730,000 acres of farmland.
There’s also plenty of agritourism in New Jersey.
Autumn is a busy time for visits to the state’s farms, as many offer fall- and Halloween-themed festivals that include corn mazes and hayrides.
Between the delicious and healthy produce they provide and the fun and educational events they offer, New Jersey’s farms are a big reason why fall is a special time of year.
