August brings a bounty of tomatoes and peaches to this area, but it’s also the peak season for fruits and vegetables that contain anthocyanin, a pigment that colors them blue, purple, or deep red.
According to the National Institutes of Health, studies show that anthocyanins “possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, improve visual and neurological health, and protect against various noncommunicable diseases.”
At Harvard farmstands this week, you can get your daily dose of anthocyanins in the form of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, cherries, red cabbage, and eggplant (in the skin only). Of that group, blueberries, raspberries, and red cabbage have the highest levels. Red cabbage will be around for a while, and raspberries come in summer and fall varieties, but blueberries are short-timers now, so think about stocking your freezer with some quality anthocyanins to get you through the winter.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Last weekend’s peach festival crowds cleaned out pretty much everything in the orchard that was ready to pick, but pick-your-own peaches, nectarines, and blueberries will return by the end of this week. Check the Facebook page for daily updates.
In the store, yellow peaches, nectarines, cherries, and blueberries, along with vegetables from Idylwilde Farms in Acton, including tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, and summer squash. Massachusetts-grown corn from the Connecticut River Valley is also available. Store is open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pick-your-own hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road, 978-772-4139
Pick-your-own blueberries, yellow and white peaches, and Gravenstein and Ginger Gold apples. At the stand, all of those items plus tomatoes, sunflowers, and Doe’s jam.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
At the self-service farmstand on the porch: Certified organic fruit and vegetables, including raspberries, tomatoes (cherry, heirloom, and slicers), summer squash, zucchini, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, celery, peppers, potatoes, Swiss chard, green beans, kale, lettuce, fennel, and basil. Eggs from Maplebrook Farmstead in Sterling are also available.
Stand is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the week, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own blueberries will be over by the end of the week. In the store: Jersey Mac apples, Red Bartlett pears, yellow and white peaches, mixed variety plums, strawberries, honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, white tiger melon, corn, tomatoes (cherry, heirloom, and slicers), kale, lettuce, collard greens, peas, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, beets, potatoes, and mixed herbs.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; pick-your-own hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
At the self-service farmstand: Lots of tomatoes, including Big Beef and Pink Girl, and sunflowers. The drought has taken a toll on the other crops. There will be a limited amount of summer squash, zucchini, and cucumbers, and a very limited amount of corn over the next week. Stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
