Apple season in Bergen County runs shorter than people expect, and the good rows go fast on weekends. Here's where to go before the trees thin out.
Demarest Farms remains the most popular pick, and for good reason — the pick-your-own section is easy to navigate with a stroller, and the cider donuts sell out by early afternoon most Saturdays, so an early start pays off.
Beat the crowds
For a quieter afternoon, a couple of smaller family-run orchards further west tend to stay manageable even on weekends. They're worth the extra ten minutes of driving if a packed parking lot isn't your idea of a relaxing outing.
Whichever you choose, bring cash — several of the smaller stands still don't take cards, and layers, since orchard mornings run cooler than you'd expect this time of year.