Riamede Farm

This is a really cute pick your own farm. When you first get there you enter through the farm store which is full of local goods like pickles and jams. Once you head through, you enter the you pick fields. Here there are tons of apples to choose from. They make it very clear what is ripe and what is not. There are also pick your own pumpkins and tomatoes available. Probably other options available seasonally as well. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful as well!

Really cute farm with extensive fall picking and a super cute farm store. I see they have recently been expanding and holding other activities and events. Great place for pick your own

My family goes to Riamede to pick every year and we were happy to see their updated website with events. Yesterday we went to the Celebration of Summer event and paid $18 for me and my husband and $10 for my son from 12-4pm. We picked and paid for veggies, bought beer from a local brewery that was set up, bought food from a food truck and bought items from their store. There was a band. By 2pm there were no cider donuts left and the place did not have many customers, my guess to the impending rain or the cost. My point is we paid a lot of money to get in and got nothing except to continue buy stuff. The entrance fee should always be nominal assuming people will purchase from this establishment. $28 to just to walk in is absurd!

Have been going to Riamede for over ten years now and have always loved how authentic and less insane it was compared to some of the other farms in Chester. However, this past time is probably our last and we will start going to Ort instead.

We love supporting local and understand and appreciate all the hard work that goes into running a farm, especially in NJ. At Riamede in 2023, the price to enter on a weekend and holiday is now $10pp. $30 for our family just to walk in the gates. Ouch. I looked online the night before and saw that Labor Day (Monday) was $2 to enter. However, when we got there it had been changed to $10. (After being asked to pay, I pulled out my phone and checked). I had no choice but to pay it as my kid was excited to partake in our yearly tradition. I should have ordered online as soon as I saw the $2 entrance fee, but you live and Learn.

The tractor ride was excellent, as was our guide - friendly and informative. Parking is ample. Apples taste delicious. We were in and out if the fields and store in 45 mins. $50 on apples and cider.

While we love Riamede, I can't justify the entry cost anymore and it's really hard to get there on a weekday to only pay $2. At other nearby farms,, there's farm animals, things for the kids to climb on, the stores sell breads and ample baked goods and such, even corn mazes, all for an $11 entry fee this year. For a difference if $1, I'm going to choose the place that has more to keep my kid entertained and where we can spend a bit more time making a nice few hours out of the experience.

Visited Riamede on a sunday afternoon and man were there lots of people lol good thing about the place is that they have ample parking space and a huge apple picking area so once youre inside it doesnt feel too crowded at all.

Weekends there are pricey though as you have to pay an entrance fee which comes with 1lb free apples each person. Unfortunately there was hardly any apples left. The trees were very close to being bare and the apples left are all at the top. And with no apple picking poles available to use it was tough finding good apples and filling those bags up. Regardless, we persevered and filled our bags to our content and the good thing about this, despite the lack of fruit, was that the apples were indeed very tasty, crunchy and sweet.

On weekends they also have some food stands with fries, funnel cakes and chicken tenders. But what most people really go for over there is (no surprise!) their apple cider donuts. Sugary, "cinnamony" and soft - they are pretty good treats. They sold out at 2pm but we managed to get the second-to-the-last pair of boxes whew!

They have corn maze/trail and a pumpkin patch but It wasnt as enjoyable for me compared to their apple picking. They have very few choices for mums back in the barn but they do have lots of corn and colorful gourds. Overall not a bad place for a fall activity. Glad we gave it a shot.

As an apple picking connoisseur who has picked regularly every season in the Northeast, Riamede is simply a steller top-notch picking experience with:

- Delicious apples. I'm sure it helps that many of them are strong thick trees with deep roots
- Great curated experience with really good signage and markings so it is super easy to know what the apples are and which are ripe
- Scenic Instagram worthy scenery and background (clearly very important)
- Cleared out apple picking lanes (not much tripping on fallen apples hazard here)

Oh and bonuses:
- The most amazing apple donuts at the end (and if you come at the right time, you might get them hot)
- FREE parking
- Online ticketing (to sure thing secure your spot)
- Free wagons
- Hay rides
- Squash and Pumpkins

Great for:
- Apple lovers
- Family outings
- Nature walks
- Instagram moments
- Tree admiration
- Friend reunions
- 4th dates (and onwards)
- Quality time with kids

I came with my entourage of a nature loving jolly Philadelphian with an eye for outdoor photography and a scientist with very discerning tastes for apples , and we had a lovely time.

Not so great for:
- Break ups (too scenic)

Lovely farm, if you have the opportunity go during the week and you'll have the whole place almost to yourself. We were told which apples were ripe for picking and from those which are good for eating and for baking. We were also told a brief history of the farm, it dates back to 1700s!!! And the first apple trees were planted in the 1950s and they are still producing.

Apart from apples you can pick your own pumpkins and squashes.

We explored to our heart's content. We finished off the adventure with apple cider and warm fresh apple cider donuts (which my nephew described as the best he's ever had in his 6 years of lifetime).

Get some of the Das creamery ice cream!!! Absolutely mind blowing.

P.S. they do accept credit cards

Love this farm ! Always a sweet staff , tons of apples to choose from , lots
Of
Jams and honeys to purchase afterwards! Great place to bring the kids !

It's Halloween eve and we promised the kids that we would go apple-picking. Riamede Farm was one of the few with any apples left. NOTE TO SELF: Apple-picking trips must be scheduled in September. After a 90-minute drive from the Big Apple (NYC), we made it to New Jersey's "oldest pick-your-own apple orchard."

PROS
Expert advice on sweet vs tart apples
Plastic bags or bring your own bag
Apple trees were mapped out and even the tree trunks were color-corded.
Guide on what's ripe and ready for picking in the orchard
You can also pick tomatoes, pumpkins, etc.
Picturesque
Cut-out boards for pictures
The farm store offers honey, syrup, cider donuts, juice, etc.

CONS
$9 admission fee per person, which includes the first pound of apples
Could not locate the apple pickers or wagons
The wagon ride lacked actual hay.
Gnats

Although the kids had a great time, I instantly noticed the differences between this farm and an apple orchard that we went to last year. This farm will be a good backup plan for next year.

Pros:
- Large apple orchard with a variety of apples to choose from
- Can pick unlimited apples (PAY BY THE LB) - pay the entrance fee (I believe it was $8 and take as many plastic bags as you want. You can pick as many apples as you want as you pay by the pound)
- Have a pumpkin patch where you can choose your own pumpkin and even cut your own off the vine
- Food! - they have a small food stand that services things like hot dogs, chicken tenders and fries, hot/cold cider, etc.
- Warm apple cider donuts - They sell boxes by the half dozen (I believe it was about $8 per box)
- Ample parking

Cons:
- Long check out lines
- Less than impressive corn maze

Overall: A great apple orchard to bring the family, your SO, or go with your friends

About an hour drive from Jersey City with lively scenic views of the fall time color change of foliage. It was a pleasant trip for the family and kids.

Covid precautions are required with signs and hand sanitizer. On a Friday there was more than enough room to walk around comfortably keeping more than 6foot distance from other pickers. Everyone was compliant and courteous. The employees greeted us kindly with our Yelp swag bags upon arrival and gave a detailed description of what is in the bag for our virtual cooking class and tour. The employees were very nice and welcoming. With our bags we also purchased a warm box of a dozen apple cider donuts, OMG so delicious. The donuts were soft inside and full of tiny bits of fresh apples and coated with cinnamon on a light toasty crust.  You must grab a box before you start your adventure because they sell out quick.

They have a food stand with refreshments, chicken fingers, french fries, cider hot dogs and funnel cake. The store sells a variety of syrups, honeys jars, honey sticks, pickles, pancake mixes, pickles and apple firewood!!

There is a list of the variety of apples they grow and which isle they are located in. You can stroll along with your radio flyer or a bag and pick the apples you want. Many of the closer trees were all picked but we sound some really good juicy ones. The lanes were cleared and cleaned of all fallen old apples.

The pumpkin patch was fun. The kids ran around until they found their perfect pumpkin. We found some great ones that were in good condition and ready for carving.

After the adventure we had some cold refreshing flavorful cider and weiged our picks for purchase.

We all left with smiles on our faces eating an apple on our way home. Looking forward to a return visit