Honeycrisp apples are gigantic this year! Apples in a bag purchased by this reporter at a local orchard were all between 11 and 12 inches in circumference. Katie Carlson said they are packing their store Honeycrisps in four-quart boxes instead of the usual half-peck bag so they can fit in more than six. Amy Craite, who works in the Carlson store, said that the apples are as sweet as they are big, adding, “They’re much better than last year’s Honeycrisps.”
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road
Cortland, McIntosh, and Gala apples, both pick-your-own and at the stand. Honeycrisps are available only at the store. Peaches and nectarines are coming to an end; some still available. Acorn, butternut, and buttercup squash, corn, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green peppers, banana peppers, zucchini, summer squash, green cabbage, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, green beans, and red watermelon from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire. Chrysanthemums and apple firewood available. Check their Facebook page for updates on available apple varieties.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road
Pick-your-own Honeycrisp, Gala, and McIntosh apples. By the weekend, Fuji and Cortland apples will be ready. Peach jam available at the stand, apple firewood available (by the bin). Honey should be available again in the next few days. Check doeorchards.wordpress.com or the Facebook page for updates.
Harvard General Store, 1 Still River Road
A variety of produce from Harper’s Farm in Lancaster and Ad Astra Farm on Old Littleton Road, as well as organic produce from Old Frog Pond Farm and apples, pears, and peaches from Carlson Orchards.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Pick-your-own apples and raspberries. Asian pears, Honeycrisp apples, picked raspberries, potatoes, kale, tomatoes, and garlic at the self-serve farmstand on the front porch. Check the website at www.oldfrogpondfarm.com for pick-your-own apple varieties. All crops certified organic by Baystate Certified.
Westward Orchards, 178 Mass. Ave.
Pick-your-own apples. Yellow and white peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, watermelon, peppers, broccoli, beans, summer squash, zucchini, eggplant, beets, kale, Swiss chard, tomatoes (including heirloom and cherry), red onions, assorted herbs, and Ginger Gold, Gala, McIntosh, Macoun, and Cortland apples in the store.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road
Yellow, white, and bicolor corn, acorn and butternut squash, peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, Red Norland and Green Mountain potatoes, possibly melons. Tomatoes are winding down; availability will be sporadic.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
