This is the final farmstand column for the season, but that doesn’t mean the stands are shutting down. Apples and winter squash are still in their prime, and even fall raspberries are hanging in there, thanks to an unusually warm October. See each farm’s listing for what to expect in the months to come.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road
Oct. 27 through 29 will be the final weekend for pick-your-own apples. Picking McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Fuji, Northern Spy, Idared, Red Rome, Cameo, Mutsu, and Jonagold; Granny Smith, Braeburn, and Pink Lady should be ready soon. Check Facebook for a daily report. McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Macoun, Empire, Cortland, Fuji, Mutsu, Northern Spy, Jonagold, Gala, Cameo, and Golden Delicious apples and Bartlett pears available in the store, as well as local cider. Brookdale Fruit Farm’s corn (until first frost), acorn and butternut squash, sugar pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and gourds in the tent next to the store. Large pumpkins from Wilson Farm in Lexington.
Carlson Orchards is open year-round, selling apples, cider, hard cider, pies, and various other apple-related products. Orders for freshly baked Thanksgiving pies are due by Nov. 13.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road
Pick-your-own apples 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily; stand is open until 5 p.m. Now picking Macoun, Fuji, Cortland, Jonagold, Empire, Red and Golden Delicious, and Mutsu. On the stand are all the varieties being picked plus Honeycrisp, Gala, and Granny Smith. Doe’s pumpkins and gourds and local cider are also on the stand.
Doe’s stand will remain open through Thanksgiving weekend and maybe longer; pick-your-own apples will continue “until there are no apples to pick.” Check the website or Facebook for updates. Cut-your-own Christmas trees will begin Friday, Nov. 24, and continue weekends until the trees are sold out.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Raspberry picking continues Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m; prices have been reduced. Greens, Asian pears, and assorted vegetables at the self-service farmstand on the front porch (closed on Mondays). Apples are done. All crops certified organic by Baystate Certified.
Next spring the farmstand will open with its first-ever crop of strawberries. Also, the CSA program that began this year will run again next year. Signups will begin in 2018; see the website for more information.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue
Oct. 27 through 29 will be the final weekend for pick-your-own apples. Currently picking McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Empire. This will also be the final week in the store for Westward’s tomatoes, kale, leeks, peppers, bok choy, parsnips, beets, and onions. Pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, and gourds are still available.
The store will remain open through Dec. 31 selling the following produce until it runs out: McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Jonagold, Arkansas Black, Baldwin, and Roxbury Russet apples, Bosc and Seckel pears, quince, potatoes (red, purple, Yukon gold, and fingerling), and winter squash (acorn, butternut, buttercup, spaghetti, and sunshine). Freshly baked Thanksgiving pie orders are due by Nov. 13. The store will hold a holiday open house featuring seasonal decorative items Dec. 1 through 3. CSA memberships will be available in the spring; check the website for details.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road
Yukon Gold and Green Mountain potatoes, winter squash (butternut, acorn, buttercup, spaghetti, delicata, carnival, blue and red Hubbard), pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, and gourds, including “weird gourds.” Some sweet and hot peppers are still available.
Willard Farm will remain open in November “until it gets cold or we run out of stuff to sell.”
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted. Brookdale Fruit Farm is in Hollis, New Hampshire.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
