While some apple varieties, such as Honeycrisp and Empire, are relative newcomers, many varieties have been around for at least 100 years. That fits the agreed-upon definition of an heirloom apple, according to New England Apples, a nonprofit that promotes the apple industry in New England. Common varieties like McIntosh and Cortland fall into that category, but Harvard’s orchards are currently offering lesser-known heirlooms this week, including Northern Spy, Ashmead’s Kernel, and Roxbury Russet.
Northern Spy, named after a novel about an abolitionist, originated in the early 1800s near Rochester, New York. Ashmead’s Kernel was developed in England in the early 1700s and made its way to the U.S. about a hundred years later. But closer to home, Roxbury, Massachusetts lays claim to what is considered the oldest named apple variety that originated in North America—the Roxbury Russet, first cultivated in the early 1600s..
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own McIntosh, Cortland, Ida Red, Northern Spy, Empire, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Red Rome, and Macoun apples. Check the Facebook page for daily updates. In the store, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Northern Spy, Golden Delicious, and Macoun apples. On the back porch, produce from Idylwilde Farms in Acton, including tomatoes, 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 Honeycrisp, Ruby Mac, McIntosh, Gala, Empire, Golden Supreme, Cortland, Jonagold, and Fuji apples. All of those are available at the stand, along with two heirloom varieties, Wickson Crab and Ashmead’s Kernel. Pumpkins and gourds 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, cocktail tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers (sweet and hot), ground cherries, kale, Swiss chard, winter squash (honeynut, butternut, kuri, acorn, and North Georgia candy roaster, a variety of Hubbard squash). Also 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
Raspberry picking is closed for the season. At the self-service farmstand on the porch: certified organic vegetables, including eggplant, carrots, peppers, onions, kale, lettuce, leeks, garlic, and basil. Raspberry, raspberry-rhubarb, blueberry, and strawberry jams as well as 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.
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, mixed variety plums, corn, 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. Pick-your-own apples open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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 will be “hanging in there for a while” according to Wendell Willard. Lots of small and medium pumpkins and gourds, as well as corn stalks and Maxant Farm honey. Stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
