Hill Creek Farms
Hill Creek Farms is a family-owned pick-your-own farm in Mullica Hill, NJ, offering apples, Asian pears, sunflowers, and pumpkins during a September–November season. The farm is in its final 2025 season before transitioning to MC Farms under new leadership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMullica Hill, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hill Creek Farms does
Hill Creek Farms is a family-owned, direct-to-consumer U-Pick agritourism farm operating from a single 14,000-tree orchard location at 1631 State Highway 45 in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. The farm invites the public to pick their own apples (Jonagold, Enterprise, Mutsu, Cameo, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, Galarina), Asian pears, sunflowers, and pumpkins over a roughly 9–10 weekend season (Friday–Sunday, 8:00am–5:30pm) running from early September through mid-November. Core agricultural inputs are conventional — drip irrigation combined with plastic covering is used for sunflower fields, and the orchard rests on a planting program established between 2004 and 2006 on a former horse farm in South Harrison Township. The Sorbello family's broader commercial cold storage business is one of the largest in the country, but it is a separate downstream logistics operation rather than a component of the on-farm agritourism product.
The business model is event-driven and highly seasonal, monetizing through three primary streams: per-vehicle admission ($20 pre-purchased / $25 walk-in, with Friday admission free and admission including a hayride and picking bag), per-pound produce pricing ($2.25/lb apples, $2.25/lb Asian pears, $0.90/lb pumpkins, plus sunflowers at $3 each or 4 for $10), and add-on kids' activities ($5 per barrel train ride for ages 18 months to 10 years). Customer segments are local families and health-conscious consumers seeking authentic farm experiences and fresh seasonal produce, reached primarily through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube), email newsletter, the farm's website, and word-of-mouth among returning visitors. Tickets are sold online through the Ticketspice platform and at the gate.
The business is in transition. The 2025 season (September 6 through November 16) is publicly framed as Hill Creek Farms' final season under founder Fred Sorbello, who is retiring amid extensive Gloucester County Board of Health compliance demands on farm-market operations. Operations have been simplified to U-Pick produce, hayrides, and barrel train rides — the 2024 market, bakery, wine garden, playground, moon bounce, and live music are all discontinued for the year. Leadership and the operating brand are passing to Mario Caltabiano, a third-generation farmer who has worked alongside Sorbello, under the new MC Farms entity, carrying forward the orchard's physical assets, customer base, and community relationships.
Hill Creek Farms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hill Creek Farms
- Legal name
- Hill Creek Farms, Inc
- Website
- https://hillcreekfarms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hill Creek Farms is a family-owned pick-your-own farm in Mullica Hill, NJ, offering apples, Asian pears, sunflowers, and pumpkins during a September–November season. The farm is in its final 2025 season before transitioning to MC Farms under new leadership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Hill Creek Farms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mullica Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hill Creek Farms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- U-Pick Admission Fees: Weekend admission fees for U-Pick access: $20 per vehicle for pre-purchased tickets, $25 per vehicle for walk-ins. Friday admission is free. The fee includes hayride access and a picking bag.
- Produce Sales (Per Pound): Customers pay for produce they pick by weight: Apples at $2.25/lb, Asian Pears at $2.25/lb, Pumpkins at $0.90/lb. Sunflowers are sold at $3 each or 4 for $10.
- Kids Activity Fees: Barrel Train Rides for children aged 18 months to 10 years are priced at $5 per ride. Previous seasons offered additional activities including Moon Bounce ($5/ride) and playground access (free).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekend Vehicle Pass - Pre-Purchased Online |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weekend Vehicle Pass - Walk-in |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Friday Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Barrel Train Rides |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids Attractions Bundle |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Apple U-Pick |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Asian Pear U-Pick |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Pumpkin U-Pick |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunflower U-Pick |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Hill Creek Farms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hill Creek Farms is a seasonal, family-owned U-Pick farm in Mullica Hill, New Jersey that invites the public to visit between September and November to pick their own apples, Asian pears, sunflowers, and pumpkins directly from the orchard. The farm complements its pick-your-own produce experience with family-friendly attractions including hayrides and children's barrel train rides, operating Friday through Sunday during the fall harvest season. The farm operates approximately 14,000 apple trees across multiple varieties and is recognized as the #1 Apple U-Pick destination in the tri-state area.
Product overview
Hill Creek Farms is a family-owned U-Pick farm offering a seasonal farm experience centered on pick-your-own produce including multiple apple varieties (Jonagold, Enterprise, Mutsu, Cameo, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smiths, Galarina), Asian Pears, and Sunflowers, complemented by family activities such as hayrides and Barrel Train Rides. The farm operates seasonally (September through November) and is transitioning to MC Farms under new leadership for its final season in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- U-Pick Apples Pick-your-own apple experience offering multiple varieties including Jonagold, Enterprise, Mutsu, Cameo, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Galarina, priced at $2.25 per pound for visitors who pick directly from the orchard trees.
- Asian Pears U-Pick Pick-your-own Asian pears, also referred to as 'Apple Pears' for their shape, described as sweet, extremely juicy, and crisp, cultivated for over 3,000 years. Priced at $2.25 per pound.
- Sunflower U-Pick Pick-your-own sunflowers including Supreme, Sun Rich, and Gold Lite varieties, grown under plastic with drip irrigation. Priced at $3 each or 4 for $10.
- Pumpkin U-Pick Pick-your-own pumpkins described as perfect for Jack-o-lanterns, located on the Hill Side Orchard, priced at $0.90 per pound.
- Hayrides Scenic hayrides around the farm included with vehicle admission, offering views of orchards and fields for the whole family during the September-November season.
- Barrel Train Rides Gentle barrel train ride for children ages 18 months to 10 years, allowing kids to explore the orchard while enjoying farm sights and sounds. Priced at $5 per ride, or part of a $10 unlimited all-day kids attractions bundle.
- Weekend Vehicle Admission (U-Pick Entry) Per-vehicle admission to the farm for Saturday and Sunday U-Pick access, including a hayride and a picking bag. $20 per vehicle for pre-purchased online tickets, $25 per vehicle for walk-ins. Friday admission is free.
Quantifiable outcome
- Established as #1 Apple U-Pick destination in the tri-state area
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Hill Creek Farms
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Hill Creek Farms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Hill Creek Farms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable and flagship.
- Haddon Culinary / Chef Jennifer MuldoonnotableChef Jennifer Muldoon from Haddon Culinary provided Farm to Fork culinary experiences at the Market and Loft, featuring fresh, locally sourced menu items during the 2024 season.
- Auburn RoadnotableAuburn Road provided their award-winning, locally produced wine for the Wine Garden during the 2024 season, enhancing the agritourism experience.
- MC Farms / Mario CaltabianoflagshipTransition partnership where Mario Caltabiano, a third-generation farmer who has worked alongside Fred Sorbello for years, is taking over operations. This represents the continuation of the farm under new leadership, transitioning from Hill Creek Farms to MC Farms while preserving the farm's welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere and family values.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hill Creek Farms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Weaver's Orchard: Morgantown, PA family orchard with pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, and farm market. Direct peer in the PA segment of the tri-state U-pick market with comparable family operation and apple-focused offerings.
- Alstede Farms: Chester, NJ farm offering pick-your-own produce, farm store, and seasonal events. Comparable as a NJ-based U-pick operation targeting families with similar admission-and-produce revenue model.
- Battleview Orchards: Freehold, NJ family-owned orchard offering pick-your-own apples, peaches, and pumpkins with a farm market. Direct peer in NJ apple U-pick with comparable scale and customer demographic.
- Masker Orchards: Warwick, NY Hudson Valley orchard with traditional pick-your-own apples. Comparable tri-state apple U-pick destination with similar seasonal model targeting families in the metro NY market.
- Stony Hill Farms: Chester, NJ U-pick farm with corn maze, pumpkin patch, and farm market. Comparable family-friendly NJ agritourism destination with overlapping apple, pumpkin, and produce offerings.
- Johnson's Corner Farm: Medford, NJ farm with pick-your-own produce, bakery, and family activities. Direct competitor in the South Jersey U-pick market with overlapping customer base and similar seasonal agritourism offerings.
- Solebury Orchards: New Hope, PA orchard specializing in pick-your-own apples and other fruits. Comparable U-pick apple operation in the broader tri-state market with similar season-driven business model.
- Terhune Orchards: Family-owned Princeton, NJ orchard offering pick-your-own apples, peaches, berries, and pumpkins with a farm store, winery, and educational activities. Directly comparable as a regional tri-state U-pick destination with a similar diversified agritourism model.
- Indian Ladder Farms: Altamont, NY family-owned orchard offering pick-your-own apples, farm store, and seasonal events. Comparable tri-state U-pick destination with similar apple variety portfolio and agritourism positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Linvilla Orchards: Media, PA farm market and pick-your-own destination with broader produce offerings, bakery, and extensive seasonal events. Comparable as a larger-scale tri-state agritourism operator that competes for the same family visitor demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hill Creek Farms social profiles
Digital presenceHill Creek Farms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hill Creek Farms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Hill Creek Farms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hill Creek Farms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hill Creek Farms
What does Hill Creek Farms do?
Hill Creek Farms is a seasonal, family-owned U-Pick farm in Mullica Hill, New Jersey that invites the public to visit between September and November to pick their own apples, Asian pears, sunflowers, and pumpkins directly from the orchard. The farm complements its pick-your-own produce experience with family-friendly attractions including hayrides and children's barrel train rides, operating Friday through Sunday during the fall harvest season. The farm operates approximately 14,000 apple trees across multiple varieties and is recognized as the #1 Apple U-Pick destination in the tri-state area.
Is Hill Creek Farms a public or private company?
Hill Creek Farms is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Hill Creek Farms founded?
Hill Creek Farms was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hill Creek Farms based?
Hill Creek Farms is headquartered in Mullica Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hill Creek Farms make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. U-Pick Admission Fees are the primary driver. The others are produce Sales (Per Pound) and kids Activity Fees.
Who are Hill Creek Farms's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Weaver's Orchard, Alstede Farms, Battleview Orchards, Masker Orchards, Stony Hill Farms, Johnson's Corner Farm, Solebury Orchards, Terhune Orchards and Indian Ladder Farms. Linvilla Orchards is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Hill Creek Farms have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hill Creek Farms.