Rose Robson Brings Fresh Energy to a Family Farm
Fourth-generation farmer Rose Robson knows that every season brings new challenges—and that resilience, paired with a willingness to innovate, is what carries farmers through them.
Located in Wrightstown, Robson’s Farm has become known for its orchard fruit, U-pick flowers, pawpaws, and welcoming farm experiences. Operated by Rose and her mother, Jean, the farm continues a family legacy that spans generations while embracing new ideas that invite more people to experience New Jersey agriculture.
This season, however, brought an enormous challenge. A late spring freeze devastated approximately 85% of the farm’s peach crop, including a total loss in its primary producing orchard. Rather than let the setback define the season, Rose focused on finding new ways to connect visitors with the farm and support the business through an unusually difficult year.
Among her newest ideas are the farm’s Field Walks, another way Rose is inviting visitors to slow down, explore the orchard, and experience farming from a new perspective.
Located in Wrightstown, Robson’s Farm has become known for its orchard fruit, U-pick flowers, pawpaws, and welcoming farm experiences. Operated by Rose and her mother, Jean, the farm continues a family legacy that spans generations while embracing new ideas that invite more people to experience New Jersey agriculture.
This season, however, brought an enormous challenge. A late spring freeze devastated approximately 85% of the farm’s peach crop, including a total loss in its primary producing orchard. Rather than let the setback define the season, Rose focused on finding new ways to connect visitors with the farm and support the business through an unusually difficult year.
Among her newest ideas are the farm’s Field Walks, another way Rose is inviting visitors to slow down, explore the orchard, and experience farming from a new perspective.
 In another meaningful touch, $1 from every Field Walk is donated to the our Farmers Against Hunger program—a fitting tribute to a cause long supported by Rose’s father, Neil Robson, whose legacy lives on through the Society’s annual Neil Robson Farmers Against Hunger Award. “I never want to be the type of person who doesn’t try something because I’m worried it might not work,” Rose says. That philosophy can be seen throughout the farm—from its popular Pawpaw walks and creative social media to the countless ways Rose continues finding new opportunities to connect people with agriculture. Through innovation, optimism, and a deep respect for her family’s legacy, Rose Robson is writing the next chapter of Robson’s Farm—one that reminds us that even in agriculture’s most difficult seasons, resilience has a way of taking root. |  |
| That mindset has been years in the making. After Rose’s father, Neil, and grandfather passed away in 2006, the family said goodbye to the larger Robson farm where she grew up. The 40-acre property just up the road, however, remained in the family, and today it serves as the home of Robson’s Farm. Rose admits she didn’t always expect to become a farmer. After leaving for college, she found herself drawn back home—not to recreate the operation her parents once managed, but to build something that reflected her own strengths. “I think what was important for me was to be like, okay, you don’t have to be your dad,” Rose said. “You don’t have to do what he was doing. You can do what works for you.” Over time, that meant shifting away from the diversified vegetable production that once defined the family business and focusing instead on orchard fruit and experiences that invite people onto the farm. |  |
“I never wanted to copy what had already been done,” Rose explained. “I wanted to figure out what worked for me.”
Today, visitors don’t simply stop by to buy produce—they spend time exploring the farm.
The new Field Walk experience leads guests along a gentle walking trail with interactive mailbox stops, monthly themes, and surprises for both children and adults. Every visit includes a mini magazine created by Rose herself, along with local guides highlighting neighboring farms, restaurants, and attractions, encouraging visitors to explore the surrounding agricultural community as well.
Today, visitors don’t simply stop by to buy produce—they spend time exploring the farm.
The new Field Walk experience leads guests along a gentle walking trail with interactive mailbox stops, monthly themes, and surprises for both children and adults. Every visit includes a mini magazine created by Rose herself, along with local guides highlighting neighboring farms, restaurants, and attractions, encouraging visitors to explore the surrounding agricultural community as well.
The mini magazine is also available through a monthly mail club, allowing people from outside the area to stay connected with the farm throughout the year.
The goal, Rose says, is to create something that feels cohesive with everything else she enjoys doing.
“I’ve always loved writing,” she said. “I already do all of our photography and social media, so it all kind of plays together.”
Her creativity shows up everywhere on the farm.
The U-pick flower fields continue to grow in popularity, drawing visitors celebrating birthdays, family outings, and afternoons outdoors. This season, Rose expanded the flower plantings and is introducing floral design demonstrations to help guests create beautiful arrangements from the flowers they’ve picked.
The goal, Rose says, is to create something that feels cohesive with everything else she enjoys doing.
“I’ve always loved writing,” she said. “I already do all of our photography and social media, so it all kind of plays together.”
Her creativity shows up everywhere on the farm.
The U-pick flower fields continue to grow in popularity, drawing visitors celebrating birthdays, family outings, and afternoons outdoors. This season, Rose expanded the flower plantings and is introducing floral design demonstrations to help guests create beautiful arrangements from the flowers they’ve picked.
Then there are the pawpaws.
One of North America’s only native tree fruits, pawpaws are known for their creamy, custard-like flesh and tropical flavor—a unique crop that has found a home at Robson’s Farm. Long before they became popular among adventurous fruit lovers, Rose decided they deserved a place at Robson’s Farm. After hearing about the fruit from a Rutgers professor and then stumbling across an article about the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, she followed a personal rule she laughs about today.
“I have a very strict rule that if something comes into my life twice, I have to look into it.”
She contacted renowned pawpaw breeder Neal Peterson to ask whether the fruit could succeed commercially in New Jersey. Encouraged by the answer, she planted more than 100 trees—despite never having tasted a pawpaw herself.
One of North America’s only native tree fruits, pawpaws are known for their creamy, custard-like flesh and tropical flavor—a unique crop that has found a home at Robson’s Farm. Long before they became popular among adventurous fruit lovers, Rose decided they deserved a place at Robson’s Farm. After hearing about the fruit from a Rutgers professor and then stumbling across an article about the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, she followed a personal rule she laughs about today.
“I have a very strict rule that if something comes into my life twice, I have to look into it.”
She contacted renowned pawpaw breeder Neal Peterson to ask whether the fruit could succeed commercially in New Jersey. Encouraged by the answer, she planted more than 100 trees—despite never having tasted a pawpaw herself.
| “I just had a good feeling,” she said. Today, those trees have become one of the farm’s signature attractions. Every September, Robson’s Farm hosts guided Pawpaw Walks, introducing visitors to North America’s largest native fruit while teaching them how to recognize perfectly ripe fruit and appreciate one of the region’s most unusual crops. Ironically, the event itself almost never happened. While cleaning out old emails, Rose discovered a message from a National Geographic writer looking for farms celebrating pawpaws. Rose mentioned she had been thinking about hosting guided walks but hadn’t actually planned one yet. The writer replied that if she scheduled the event, it would be included in the story. “So I did it,” Rose laughed. What started as a leap of faith has since grown into one of the busiest days of the farm’s fall season. That willingness to experiment extends beyond the orchard. Rose personally manages the farm’s photography, website, social media, and much of its creative direction. Her lighthearted “7 a.m. Cocktail” videos, which began in 2020 as a morale booster, have developed a loyal following by entertaining customers while naturally highlighting what’s growing on the farm and the products available at the farm stand. “I think there’s also a place for an entertainment-type post,” she said. “Instead of doing such a hard promotion, it’s a softer sell.” |  |
It’s an approach that feels authentic—and one that has helped cultivate a community just as much as a customer base.
That sense of community is something the Robson family has long been known for.
Neil Robson was one of the program’s earliest and most dedicated supporters, donating an average of 800 pounds of produce each week and welcoming gleaning groups onto the farm. Today, his legacy is honored annually through the Neil Robson Farmers Against Hunger Award, presented by the New Jersey Agricultural Society to recognize extraordinary support of the program.
That sense of community is something the Robson family has long been known for.
Neil Robson was one of the program’s earliest and most dedicated supporters, donating an average of 800 pounds of produce each week and welcoming gleaning groups onto the farm. Today, his legacy is honored annually through the Neil Robson Farmers Against Hunger Award, presented by the New Jersey Agricultural Society to recognize extraordinary support of the program.
Although these days, Robson’s Farm typically sells through its crops before gleaning opportunities arise, Rose wanted to continue supporting the program in her own way.
“I feel like sometimes it might be nice to try and help others while you’re trying to help yourself,” she said.
For every Field Walk purchased, a portion of the proceeds supports Farmers Against Hunger, ensuring that visitors can help feed New Jersey families simply by spending a day at the farm.
Whether she’s planting an unfamiliar fruit, dreaming up a new farm experience, or turning the back of her pickup truck into a makeshift cocktail bar, Rose approaches each season with the same outlook:
If an idea feels worth trying, give it a chance.
Her energy and willingness to forge her own path are a reminder that New Jersey agriculture’s future is in good hands. Even after one of the toughest seasons she’s faced, Rose is already looking ahead to what’s next—and finding new reasons for people to visit the farm.
Planning a visit? Robson’s Farm is located at 33 Rahilly Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562, and is open to the public Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. If you’re looking for a summer day trip, be sure to stop by!
“I feel like sometimes it might be nice to try and help others while you’re trying to help yourself,” she said.
For every Field Walk purchased, a portion of the proceeds supports Farmers Against Hunger, ensuring that visitors can help feed New Jersey families simply by spending a day at the farm.
Whether she’s planting an unfamiliar fruit, dreaming up a new farm experience, or turning the back of her pickup truck into a makeshift cocktail bar, Rose approaches each season with the same outlook:
If an idea feels worth trying, give it a chance.
Her energy and willingness to forge her own path are a reminder that New Jersey agriculture’s future is in good hands. Even after one of the toughest seasons she’s faced, Rose is already looking ahead to what’s next—and finding new reasons for people to visit the farm.
Planning a visit? Robson’s Farm is located at 33 Rahilly Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562, and is open to the public Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. If you’re looking for a summer day trip, be sure to stop by!