Early apples like Ginger Gold and Gravenstein are winding down, but Cortland, Gala, Honeycrisp, and McIntosh are coming on strong. Which to pick? If you’re baking, go with Cortland or Honeycrisp. For applesauce, Gala and McIntosh work well, especially blended together. More varieties are on the way, and the easiest way to try them all is to do your own picking.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road
Pick-your-own apples and raspberries daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; check the Facebook page or call for apple varieties being picked. McIntosh and Royal Gala apples, peaches, and nectarines in the store, as well as Brookdale Fruit Farm’s melons, corn, tomatoes, green and wax beans, green peppers, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, and organic cherry tomatoes.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road
Pick-your-own peaches and Ginger Gold, Gravenstein, Honeycrisp, and Gala apples, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Peaches and apples also available at the stand, along with Doe’s honey.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Apple picking on weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., raspberry picking Wed. through Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Asian pears, jam, and a variety of vegetables at the self-service farmstand on the front porch. All crops certified organic by Baystate Certified.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue
Pick-your-own apples daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the season. Ginger Gold, Gala, Cortland, and McIntosh apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew melons, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, leeks, lettuce, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, cabbage, celery, carrots, beans, Swiss chard, kale, summer squash, zucchini, beets, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, shallots, mixed herbs, and a variety of cut flowers in the store.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road
Corn (bicolor, yellow, and white), tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), Red Norland new potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes. Still some cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, and sunflowers.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted. Brookdale Fruit Farm is in Hollis, New Hampshire
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
