Bucks County Farm Markets and Farm Stands

Bucks County farm markets and stands spread across the countryside around New Hope, Pennsylvania, selling sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, pumpkins and baked goods from the farms that grow them. City visitors drive out from Philadelphia and New York for a day among the fields. Go with a cooler, cash and a free afternoon.

What are Bucks County farm markets?

Larger farm stores and stands run by working farms, many with a bakery, a deli counter and a seasonal produce section. Some also offer pick your own fruit, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze or a petting zoo. They are open on certain days and seasons, and they close when the fruit and the weather end. Confirm each farm's days and hours with the farm. Many have a seasonal calendar posted at the entrance: strawberries in June, peaches in July, corn in August, apples and pumpkins in September and October. A farm that sells ready-made food, such as pies, soups, sandwiches and cider, may stay open into winter. The best way to learn what is open is to ask in New Hope, where innkeepers and shopkeepers know the farms and often buy from them.

Where are farm stands near New Hope?

On the country roads that lead out of town, in every direction. Small roadside tables, sheds and carts sell what is ripe, often with an honor box. The area around New Hope has rolling fields, stone farmhouses and old barns, and a drive through it is half the pleasure. Look for hand-painted signs, and slow down for turns. The roads are narrow and winding, with stone walls close to the edge, and tractors and cyclists share them. Park fully off the road at a stand, and watch for traffic as you step out. Take a map or a download, because the signal can be weak in the valleys. A drive without a destination is often the best way to find a stand you did not plan on.

What can you pick your own?

In season, strawberries in spring, blueberries and peaches in summer, apples and pumpkins in autumn. A farm that offers pick your own sets the rules: containers, weights, hours and where to walk. Children enjoy it, and it is a cheap way to eat well. Check weather and conditions with the farm before you set out, because fields close after rain. Wear a hat, sunscreen and shoes you do not mind getting dirty, and bring water. Pick only what you plan to buy, and handle fruit gently. A good picker fills a basket in half an hour, and a family of four can eat well for the price of a pizza. Ask the staff how to tell when a fruit is ripe. Many farms also sell jam, honey, eggs and cheese, and a jar of local jam is an easy gift. Keep a cooler in the car for dairy and meat, and go home with something you did not plan to buy.

What is cider and pumpkin season like?

Autumn is the big season, with cider presses running, pumpkins stacked, mums in bloom and doughnuts hot from the fryer. Weekends are crowded, and parking fills. Go on a weekday if you can, or early on a weekend. Fresh cider is cloudy and seasonal, and some producers pasteurize it, so ask if you are serving children, older people or anyone pregnant.

What does farm to table mean in Bucks County?

That restaurants buy from farms nearby and say so on the menu. Many kitchens in New Hope and the surrounding villages source vegetables, eggs, cheese, meat and fruit from Bucks County and neighboring counties, and a menu may name the farm. Ask the server what is local that week. A few restaurants host dinners at the farm in season, with tables set out in a field or a barn. The New Hope restaurants guide covers where to eat.

How do you shop a farm market well?

Bring cash and reusable bags. Ask what is best this week. Taste before you buy if the farm offers samples, and buy a little of several things. Keep cold items cold on the drive home. Respect the farm: stay on the paths, keep children and dogs close and do not pick what is not for sale. A friendly thank you goes a long way.

How do tags and lists help?

In the Mosey app, raters add tags when they rate a place, including Farm Producer, Market Stall, Bakery and Family Friendly, and diners look for them in the Find sheet. A tag is a note from someone who was there, so check each farm's days and hours. Make a list of your favorite farms with a note on what each sells, and share it with friends.

Where next near New Hope?

The brunch guide covers the morning in town, and the Lancaster County farm stands guide covers a larger farm region to the west. The US food guides hold the rest of the country.

This is one of many Pennsylvania guides, and the Food in Pennsylvania page lists them all by town.

With the trunk full, open the Mosey app, rate the best thing you bought by the dish and start a list of Bucks County farms you will visit again.