If this produce season had a nickname, the strongest contender so far would be the “summer of the long corn.” With the edible portion of most local ears running about nine inches long, cobs may have to be split in half to fit in a cooking pot. According to “Ear Size Determination in Corn,” published by Bob Nielsen of Purdue University’s Department of Agronomy, while the number of rows on an ear of corn is mostly determined by the variety, the number of kernels per row depends largely on growing conditions early in the season. Looks like there was something positive about that cold, wet June after all.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road
Pick-your-own blueberries and peaches; raspberries should be available by the weekend. In the store, peaches and nectarines, along with Brookdale Fruit Farm’s butter and sugar corn, tomatoes (including organic cherry tomatoes), cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, green peppers, green beans, yellow beans, zucchini, and summer squash. Check the website or Facebook page for updates. Store is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick-your-own hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. www.carlsonorchards.com
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road
Pick-your-own yellow peaches; pick-your-own blueberries still available but winding down. At the stand, Gravenstein and Ginger Gold apples, yellow and white peaches, lots of sunflowers, and Doe’s honey and blueberry jam. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. www.doeorchards.com
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Apples, peaches, tomatoes, blueberries, garlic, blueberry jam, wild Harvard honey, and eggs; all produce is certified organic. www.oldfrogpondfarm.com
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue
Pick-your-own blueberries. In the store, strawberries, nectarines, yellow and white peaches, and Ginger Gold apples. Tomatoes (regular, heirloom, and cherry), potatoes, lettuce, kale, collard greens, eggplant, Japanese eggplant, broccoli, summer squash, zucchini, mixed-color peppers, wax beans, purple beans, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, beets, and herbs. Store is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick-your-own containers available till 4 p.m. daily. www.westwardorchards.com
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road
Bicolor and yellow corn, tomatoes, including Pink Girl, Green Zebra, Carolina Gold, Cherokee Purple, and Roma, as well as uglies and almost uglies. Other produce is less plentiful at Willard Farm this year, but there are usually some cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, peppers, and eggplant at the self-serve farmstand. And sometimes there are surprises, like Tuesday’s organic Suyo long cucumbers–“no need to peel,” according to the sign. www.facebook.com/Willard-Farm
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
Brookdale Fruit Farm is in Hollis, New Hampshire.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
