Falltime Flavors: Which New Jersey Farm Stand is the Best?

Each fall season, everyone gets that life consuming craving for a good old fashioned apple cider treat from a local farm stand. But which one in New Jersey is the best? Which is the most family friendly, eye-catching, or has the best goodies to satisfy those fall cravings? The Cyclone Chronicle’s Elizabeth May, Samantha Swayze, and Tanner Sullivan (editor-in-chief, co-executive managing editor, and alumnus, respectively) took to the road to get the answers.

Donaldson Farms Farm Market 

358 Allen Road, Hackettstown

Cleanness/Presentation: Donaldson Farms has a storefront that feels as though you are visiting family. The staff is welcoming, the produce and goods are displayed well, and the farm as a whole is organized and visually appealing. 

Crowds: Donaldson’s constantly has people coming in and out, so much so they have 15-minute parking to keep crowds flowing. Donaldson’s wasn’t swamped, but it also wasn’t dead, which goes to show how much people love Donaldson’s. 

Food/Drinks: The apple cider is some of the best in the area, and it’s especially worth it for its reasonable price. There are also fun treats and snacks, such as candy apples, dipped rice krispy treats, and the biggest pickles we’ve ever seen. 

Prices: Their apple cider doughnuts are $9.50 for five doughnuts. The apple cider is $3 for a pint, $5.25 for a half gallon, and $9.25 for one gallon. The apple cider is the cheapest out of all the places we visited. 

“I have loved going to Donaldson Farms since I was a kid,” said Swayze. “It’s right down the street, has amazing apple cider, and is affordable. What more could you ask for?” 

Alstede Farms

1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester

Cleanness/Presentation: Alstede Farms has multiple attractions and treats available for everyone. They had an assortment of animals for visitors to pet and feed, as well as a vast selection of produce and baked goods, food trucks, and ice cream. The storefront was harder to navigate than others, as the aisles were narrow, but the high quality of their products created a crowded store. 

Crowds: Alstede’s was the busiest out of all the farm stands we visited. That’s for good reason; they have a lot more to offer. There’s animals everywhere you can feed or pet, delicious food, and even a live band to keep crowds there longer and entertained. 

Food/Drinks: Alstede’s doughnuts were tasty, although their taste was lost by the end since we purchased them at our first stop. They were great, but not as good compared to the other farms. 

Prices: For apple cider doughnuts, Alstede offers six doughnuts for $9 or one dozen for $15. Their apple cider is $8 for a half gallon and $11 for one gallon. 

“Alstede was the first farm we visited, and I was very impressed by what they had to offer,” said Sullivan. “Not only was there a massive space full of great sights and activities, but there was no shortage of things to do. I had a lot of fun getting to see and pet their animals, walk across the fields, and browse through their shops. I was even able to forgive the weather gods for letting it rain during our visit, that’s how much I enjoyed it!”

Tranquillity Farms

47 Decker Pond Road, Green Township

Cleanness/Presentation: Tranquility Farms has a beautifully structured storefront and ice cream stand. Their store is very open and easy to navigate, also feeling warm and welcoming. 

Crowds: Tranquility had the second largest crowd and it was only growing. Tranquility often has events happening, which draw bigger and bigger crowds. When we went to the farm stand, there was a giant event with at least 30 vendors going on—we unfortunately didn’t have tickets to get in but that didn’t stop us from getting a sneak peak of all the fun the event had to offer.

Food/Drinks: Their apple cider is by far the best out of the ones we tried. The apple cider doughnuts were also delicious, the flavor not too strong yet still very sweet. 

Prices: Tranquility offers six apple cider doughnuts for $7. One pint of cider is $3.95, half a gallon is $6.96, and one gallon is $10.95. 

“I often find myself going out of my way just to go to Tranquillity and have some of their phenomenal ice cream,” said May.

Mackey's Orchard

284 County Road 519, Belvidere

Cleanness/Presentation: Mackey’s Orchard isn’t a large location, it has a nice area to sit outside in good weather. While outside you’ll find their classic koi fish pond and you can wander their greenhouses for your next addition to your garden. 

Crowds: Mackey’s either has a line so long you’re waiting in the parking lot for that delicious ice cream or you’re in luck and you might just be one of the few people there to get your goodies and sneak out. When we went, Mackey’s only had a handful of people, but that just meant we got our hands on their famous apple cider doughnuts.

Food/Drinks: The tasty treats at Mackey’s Orchard are some of the best in the area and worth every dime. Oftentimes you’ll find their classic apple cider doughnuts sold out, but if you manage to snag a bag, you best believe it’ll be gone by nightfall.

Prices: Mackey’s Orchard had some of the fairest prices out of the farm stands. For half a dozen doughnuts and a 6-oz apple cider, it’s roughly $9. 

"Mackey's is fire! I love the hay ride to go apple picking and the apple cider is to die for,” said Carlee Nigro, co-executive managing editor of The Cyclone Chronicle. 

Race's Farm Market

87 Belcher Road, Blairstown

Cleanness/Presentation: Race’s Farm Market isn’t as refined as locations like Tranquility, but that’s because it’s not a family event farm stand. Instead Race’s Farm Market is a local market that helps bring quality organic food to residents’ tables. 

Crowds: Race’s is by far the least crowded spot on our list. It’s guaranteed that there will be no more than 20 people in the small local stand at once and that’s what’s great about Race’s. The lack of a crowd allows you to go in and get farm fresh food without the hassle of waiting forever or spreading an outrageous price. 

Food/Drinks: The food and drinks at Race’s Farm Market are exactly what you expect from the local Blairstown farms. Race’s Farm Market has consistent quality and rather delicious food.

Prices: Out of all the farm markets we visited, Race’s Farm Market is the cheapest and most wallet friendly.

“Race’s Farm Market, while not as fancy as some farm stands, is a reliable and easy stand to get goodies like apple cider doughnuts, farm made ice cream, and all kinds of produce at a reasonable price,” said May. 

Marshall's Farm Market

114 US-46, Delaware, NJ

Cleanness/Presentation: The presentation of Marshall's Farm Market is on the more fun side. They have a giant lawn chair and multiple photo cutout boards for kids to enjoy. Marshall's Farm Market looks wise is what many would picture a New Jersey farm stand to look like. 

Crowds: Marshall's, like Mackey's, is either peaceful or packed. When we went, we were the only ones there, but we also went close to closing. Marshall's often has family events that are great for kids, which draws in bigger crowds. 

Food/Drinks: The food and drinks at Marshall's Farm Market are good, but perhaps priced a little high for what you get. As good as their apple cider is, the price isn’t worth it in comparison with the other farm stands. 

Prices: Marshall's Farm Market is the most expensive on this list and will definitely put a dent in your bank account. 

“I think Marshall’s was a very interesting farm, especially when compared to the others we visited,” said Sullivan. “I did enjoy browsing through their market, which was full of items tempting me to buy them at every turn, and there were some cool outdoor decorations. But I also think it had the least to offer when compared to the others; it was mainly just the market and nothing else. Still a cute little place, but I think it had the least personality out of all of them.”

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After venturing around New Jersey, which of these six farm stands won the tastiest and most satisfactory award? 

At the top of our list with a lowkey outdoors area, farm fresh produce, and the best apple cider doughnuts, is Mackey’s Orchard. Followed closely by Traquility Farms, which stood out to us with their almost equally as good apple cider doughnuts and an outdoors area full of family friendly activities. 

Each farm stand we visited was delicious and welcoming in their own ways. Whether it was their prices that made our pockets feel better, the tasty goodies that filled our stomachs, or the comfortable atmosphere that felt like a home away from home, we loved each and every farm stand. 

If any of them are close to you, or if you’re willing to make a trek, we recommend going and getting yourself some apple cider doughnuts or plain old apple cider this fall season!