Apple season is nearly here, and this year the orchards are counting on their apple crop to help offset other losses. Luckily the trees are brimming with fruit, and most will open for pick-your-own in a few weeks. In the meantime, all of the farmstands in town are selling produce of some type or other. Locally grown fruits and vegetables beat supermarket offerings in flavor and freshness hands down, and Harvard farmers need our support now more than ever (see story on page 1). So before you pick up that tomato in the grocery store, remember that a much tastier tomato is waiting for you at a stand in Harvard, one that’s likely no more than a short hop from your route home. Now is the time for all good Harvard-ites to come to the aid of their farmers.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries; check the website and Facebook daily for availability. Already picked blueberries and raspberries are available in the store, along with Connecticut peaches, Massachusetts corn, and tomatoes, green and wax beans, peppers, zucchini, summer squash, and Vidalia onions from Idylwilde Farms. Some apple varieties from last season are also available.
Store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road, 978-772-4139
Pick-your-own blueberries is over. At the stand on the hill, vegetables and sunflowers. Gravenstein apples coming soon.
Stand is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday (check the website or Facebook for possible changes during the next few weeks).
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Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road, 978-456-8291
At the self-service farmstand this week: Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and summer apples, as well as tomatoes, green beans, tomatillos, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, New Zealand spinach, and Patty Pan squash. The farm’s own honey, berry jams, and flower bouquets and chicken and duck eggs from Harvard’s Goose and Hen farm are also available.
Stand is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
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, and the first of the season’s apples, “Pristine,” a “juicy, crisp, lemony” variety, and “Williams Pride,” “crunchy and sweet/tart with a hint of spice,” according to orchard owner Linda Hoffman. Kale is also available at the stand, as are the farm’s berry jams and calendula oil 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. Pick-your-own raspberries is open daily.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own blueberries continues this week. Available in the store: Westward’s blueberries, strawberries, honeydew melon, tomatoes, corn, lettuce, celery, mixed peppers, broccoli, summer squash, zucchini, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, eggplant, Japanese eggplant, mixed beans, beets, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, shallots, cabbage, and mixed herbs. Additional produce from Idylwilde Farms is also available.
Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
