The pick-your-own peaches season is either over or winding down at Harvard’s orchards. But this week, Carlson, Doe, and Westward orchards are still selling this local favorite, so if you want to keep experiencing that peachy goodness into the fall, now is the time to spring into action.
Ripe peaches don’t last very long; even refrigeration only buys you a few days. They can be frozen though. While thawed peaches won’t taste quite as fresh, they’ll be fine for baking, smoothies, or even adding to a glass of wine. If you’ll be using them in the next two months, you can simply flash-freeze them, either whole or in pieces, with or without the skin. Cut peaches should be treated with a little lemon juice or ascorbic acid to keep them from discoloring when thawing, then frozen on a baking sheet and stored in a freezer bag.
If you’re thinking peach cobbler in January, you’ll need to do a bit more work. To keep peaches in the freezer for up to 10 months, blanch, skin, pit, and slice them, then pack them in sugar, water, or sugar syrup. Details for this process are available on multiple internet sites, including Better Homes and Gardens (bhg.com/recipes/how-to/preserving-canning/freeze-peaches).
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Royal Gala, and Ginger Gold apples. Check the Facebook page for daily updates. In the store, nectarines, yellow peaches and Ginger Gold and Honeycrisp apples. On the back porch, produce from Idylwilde Farms in Acton, including tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and butternut squash. Massachusetts-grown corn from the Connecticut River Valley is available, as are gourds, pumpkins, and mini-pumpkins from Wilson Farm in Lexington. 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 late season peaches and McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Cortland, and Ruby Mac apples. At the stand, McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Ruby Mac, Ginger Gold, and the last of the Gravenstein apples as well as Doe’s jam. Peaches and B-grade apples are usually available. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
At the self-service farmstand: raspberries, tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers (sweet and hot), kale, Swiss chard, eggplant, pattypan squash, ground cherries, honey, flowers (dahlias and the last of the sunflowers), and blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry jam. Open daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Pick-your-own raspberries. At the self-service farmstand on the porch: certified organic fruit and vegetables, including raspberries, Asian pears, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, cabbage, carrots, celery, peppers, potatoes, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, leeks, garlic, basil, and raspberry, raspberry-rhubarb, blueberry, and strawberry jams. Local eggs are also available.
The stand is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the week, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Pick-your-own is open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own apples. In the store: Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, and Cortland apples, Bartlett pears, yellow and white peaches, nectarines, mixed variety plums, cantaloupe, snow leopard melon, corn, tomatoes (cherry, heirloom, and slicers), kale, lettuce, cabbage, Swiss chard, collard greens, leeks, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, peppers, regular and Japanese eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, kale sprouts, carrots, radishes, beets, mixed potatoes, red and yellow onions, shallots, and mixed herbs.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Pick-your-own is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
At the self-service farmstand: Corn and some sunflowers. Gourds and small pumpkins will be coming soon, possibly by this weekend. Stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
