While Harvard orchardists are awash in fruit this year, our vegetable farmers are calling for patience. According to Paul Willard, planting was delayed because the soil was so wet in late spring, and that has translated to later-than-usual availability of some crops. In addition, Westward Orchards’ Chris Green said that the lack of hot, sunny days this summer has slowed down the growth of crops like melons and tomatoes. But what’s available is as tasty as ever.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road
Pick-your-own blueberries, peaches, and nectarines. Early McIntosh apples. Brookdale Fruit Farm’s corn, tomatoes, green and wax beans, white onions, green peppers, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, and organic cherry tomatoes.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road
Pick-your-own blueberries and peaches. Yellow peaches, Gravenstein apples, blueberry jam, and sunflowers on the stand. Honey should be available toward the end of the week.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Blueberries, peaches, heirloom tomatoes, and Williams’ Pride, Pristine, McIntosh, and Almata (red-fleshed) apples at the self-service farmstand on the porch at the side of the house. All crops certified organic by Baystate Certified.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue
Peaches, nectarines, strawberries, early apples, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, cabbage, celery, carrots, beans, Swiss chard, kale, summer squash, zucchini, beets, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, shallots, and mixed herbs in the store.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road
Corn (bicolor), tomatoes, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, peppers (sweet and hot), zucchini, summer squash, eggplants, Red Norland new potatoes, and sunflowers.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted. Brookdale Fruit Farm is in Hollis, New Hampshire.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
