Ever wonder where all those apple variety names came from? Many of them represent the area where the variety was first cultivated. Empire was named for the “Empire State” of New York, Cortland for Cortland County in that same state, and Red Rome for Rome Township, Ohio. Roxbury Russet grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Ida Red in Idaho, and Fuji in Fujisaki, a town in Japan. Another Japanese apple, Mutsu, was developed in Mutsu province, but was later marketed as “Crispin” in the U.K., a name supposedly chosen in a contest. It is now known by both names here in the U.S.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own Fuji, Mutsu/Crispin, McIntosh, Cortland, Ida Red, Northern Spy, Red Delicious, Red Rome, and Macoun apples. Check the Facebook page for daily updates. In the store, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Northern Spy, Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Macoun apples. On the back porch, produce from Idylwilde Farms in Acton, including green beans, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and butternut, honeynut, delicata, and buttercup squash. Massachusetts-grown corn from the Connecticut River Valley is still 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 Mutsu, Macoun, Ruby Mac, McIntosh, Gala, Empire, Golden Supreme, Cortland, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious apples. Most of those varieties are available at the stand, along with Honeycrisp and a few heirlooms. Gourds and apple cider are also available at the stand.
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
At the self-service farmstand: raspberries and the last ground cherries and blackberries. Cocktail tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers (sweet and hot), kale, Swiss chard, New Zealand spinach, winter squash (honeynut, butternut, kuri, acorn, and North Georgia candy roaster—a variety of Hubbard squash. Also dahlias; raw unprocessed honey; and raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and grape jams.
Open daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
At the self-service farmstand on the porch: certified organic vegetables, including Asian greens, carrots, peppers, onions, kale, leeks, and basil; raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry jams; and local eggs.
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 apples; pick-your-own pumpkins on weekends only. In the store: Roxbury Russet, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Macoun, and Cortland apples; Bosc, Seckel, and Bartlett pears; nectarines, tomatoes (cherry, heirloom, and slicers), kale, lettuce, cabbage, collard greens, leeks, winter squash, peppers, regular and Japanese eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, kale sprouts, carrots, radishes, beets, mixed potatoes, red onions, shallots, and mixed herbs.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Hours for pick-your-own apples are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Wagon rides to pick-your-own pumpkins: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
At the self-service farmstand: Corn is getting thin, according to Wendell Willard, but there might still be some available this weekend. Limited amount of winter squash. Lots of pumpkins and gourds (no large pumpkins), as well as corn stalks and Maxant Farm honey.
Stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
