Lest we forget, apples have tasty, nutritious cousins that are also in season right now—pears. Some of our local orchards are selling several varieties, including Bartlett, Bosc, and Asian. Bartletts are the softest of the bunch, followed by Bosc, then Asian, which closely resembles an apple in both appearance and crispness.
Pears make a tasty apple substitute not just for eating fresh, but also for cooking jams, pies, cobblers, tarts—anywhere you’d consider using an apple. Just remember to use the crunchy ones (not Bartlett) if you want them to hold their shape. Pears are picked before they are ripe and should be stored at room temperature so they can continue to ripen. Check for ripeness by pressing on the pear’s neck. If it gives a little, it’s ripe. Don’t wait for the body of the pear to get soft—the ripening process happens from the inside to the outside, so if the outside is soft, the inside will be mushy. Once ripe, pears can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Pears are just as low in calories and high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants as apples. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, an apple and a pear a day might make you immortal. But if not, they might at least give you a daily reason to smile this fall
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, Gala, and Crimson Crisp apples, as well as cut-your-own sunflowers and zinnias. Check Facebook for daily updates. Available in the store are McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Ginger Gold, and Honeycrisp apples, as well as utility peaches and flower bouquets. Also in the store are corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, summer squash, and green peppers from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, N.H.
Store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road, 978-772-4139
Pick-your-own Macoun, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Ruby Mac, Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Jonagold Red, and Cortland apples. Many more varieties coming soon, check the website for updates. At the stand are all the pick-your-own varieties along with Ambrosia and two heirlooms, Wickson Crab and Hubbardston Nonesuch. Gourds and pumpkins are also available at the stand.
Stand and pick-your-own are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
At the self-service farmstand (and adjacent shed) this week: raspberries, blackberries, pears, tomatoes, zucchini, tomatillos, Russian and Italian Lacinato kale, spinach; pattypan, crookneck, and delicata squash. Also the farm’s own honey, jams, teas made with the farm’s dried herbs and wildflowers, lip balm, and hand cream. Fresh Chip-In Farm eggs in the fridge. Also fresh flower bouquets with dahlias, zinnias, and the last sunflowers of the season.
Self-serve stand is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Pick-your-own raspberries; pick-your-own apples is open on weekends; varieties being picked will be listed Fridays on the farm’s website. Available at the self-service stand on the front porch are the farm’s certified organic apples, raspberries, Asian pears, tomatoes, peppers, and basil, along with the farm’s own honey, fruit jams, beeswax candles, herbal teas, nettle salt, and calendula oil.
The farmstand is open daily. Pick-your-own raspberries, and the outdoor sculpture exhibit are open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; pick-your-own apples open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own apples; recommended varieties to pick are Empire, Macoun, McIntosh, and Cortland. Wagon rides to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch run on weekends.
Available in the store: Empire, Baldwin, Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, Roxbury Russet, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, and Cortland apples, Bosc, Asian, and Bartlett pears, strawberries, and mixed plums. Also Westward’s own corn, tomatoes (including heirloom and cherry), lettuce, kale, winter squash, peppers, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, beets, cabbage, carrots, mixed potatoes, and mixed herbs.
Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; pick-your-own apples is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Wagon rides to pick-your-own pumpkins (weekends only), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
From Cucurbit Farm in Acton: corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, lunch box peppers, Yukon gold potatoes, radishes, yellow and red onions, zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, shallots, scallions, winter squash (including acorn, butternut, honeynut, and delicata), pumpkins, minipumpkins, sugar pumpkins, and flowers. Lettuce is in the refrigerator. Willard Farm’s gourds, white pumpkins, and large “Cinderella” pumpkins are also available.
Self-service stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
