Mid-September is the heart of the season for the McIntosh apple and its many descendants. McIntosh, a sweet-tart, crisp apple, was discovered by John McIntosh when he came across some seedlings in an overgrown portion of his orchard in Ontario in the 1800s. The McIntosh apple’s many offspring include several varieties grown in Harvard, including Cortland, Empire, Macoun, and Ruby Mac.
Cortland’s other parent is an old apple variety called Ben Davis. Empire is a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious, and Macoun’s parents are McIntosh and Jersey Black. Ruby Mac is a relative newcomer, discovered in Michigan in 1999. One parent is definitely McIntosh, and the other is identified by some sources as Rubinstar. Other sources call it a “sport”—a spontaneous mutation of a variety.
Not only is McIntosh considered the national apple of Canada, it was also the favorite apple of Jef Raskin, the man in charge of the Macintosh computer project at what was then Apple Computer, Inc. According to the biography “Steve Jobs,” Raskin initially named the computer McIntosh, but that name was already in use by an audio equipment company, so the spelling was changed to Macintosh.
All this from a chance discovery while clearing an orchard more than 200 years ago. Thank you, John McIntosh.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Gala, and Cortland apples. Check the Facebook page for daily updates. In the store, utility nectarines and peaches and Ginger Gold, Gala, Cortland, McIntosh, 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 McIntosh, Gala, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Empire, and Ruby Mac apples. At the stand, most of the apple varieties being picked are usually available. Gourds and pumpkins coming soon. 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, winter squash (Honeynut, Kuri, North Georgia Candy Roaster, and Butternut), and ground cherries. Also honey, flowers (dahlias), and blackberry, raspberry, grape, 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, carrots, celery, peppers, onions, Swiss chard, kale, lettuce, leeks, garlic, basil, and raspberry, raspberry-rhubarb, blueberry, and strawberry jams. Local eggs 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. 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, Macoun, and Cortland apples, Bosc, Seckel, and Bartlett pears, yellow and white peaches, nectarines, mixed variety plums, snow leopard melon, corn, tomatoes (cherry, heirloom, and slicers), kale, lettuce, cabbage, Swiss chard, collard greens, leeks, cucumbers, summer squash, 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: Pumpkins and gourds, some corn, possibly end-of-the-line tomatoes, and corn stalks. No giant pumpkins this season due to the drought. Stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
