Early apples are here, including Ginger Gold, an apple born of a hurricane. After Hurricane Camille brought devastating floods to Nelson County, Virginia, in 1969, orchard owner Clyde Harvey discovered a chance seedling that was bearing yellow fruit on the edge of his Winesap orchard. Originally named “Harveylicious”, the apple’s name was changed to honor Harvey’s wife, Frances “Ginger” Harvey, and the golden color of the apple. Research has since found the apple to be a cross between a Golden Delicious and an Albemarle Pippin. The flavor is both sweet and tart, and it’s excellent for eating, pies, and salads. The Ginger Gold and its early season companions won’t be around too long—taste them while you can!
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own peaches, nectarines, Ginger Gold apples, sunflowers, and zinnias. Already-picked peaches, nectarines, Ginger Gold and Honeycrisp apples, and flowers are available in the store, along with vegetables (including corn) from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire. Check Facebook for an updated version of what will be available for picking and in the store each day.
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 Honeycrisp, Gala, and Ginger Gold apples. Many more varieties coming soon, check the website for updates. At the stand are yellow peaches along with Gravenstein, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, and Gala apples as well as sunflowers. Stand and pick-your-own are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
At the self-service farmstand this week: raspberries, blackberries, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatillos, kale, spinach, patty pan and delicata squash, and fresh herbs, including basil. Also the farm’s own honey, jam, wildflowers, herbal tea, lip balm, and hand cream. Fresh Chip-In Farm eggs in the fridge. Also flower bouquets with dahlias, zinnias, and sunflowers.
Self-serve stand is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Pick-your-own certified organic raspberries; pint boxes available at the self-service stand on the front porch. Also at the stand, certified organic produce, including apples, Asian and Seckel pears, tomatoes, peppers, and the farm’s own honey, fruit jams, beeswax candles, herbal teas, nettle salt, and calendula oil.
Pick-your-own raspberries is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; pick-your-own apples is open Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own apples will start Saturday, Sept. 6; recommended varieties to pick will be McIntosh and Cortland. Available in the store: Westward’s yellow and white peaches, nectarines, watermelon, honeydew, strawberries, mixed plums, Asian and Bartlett pears, and Gala, Ginger Gold, and Cortland apples, along with corn, tomatoes (including heirloom and cherry), lettuce, kale, cucumbers, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, broccoli, eggplant, beets, cabbage, beans, carrots, mixed potatoes, and mixed herbs.
Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; pick-your-own is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
From Cucurbit Farm in Acton: corn, tomatoes, including plum and cherry, zucchini, carrots, celery, green peppers, Yukon gold potatoes, radishes, yellow and red onions, eggplant (traditional and Asian), shallots, garlic, sugar pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and flowers. Watermelon and lettuce are in the refrigerator. Willard Farm’s Polar Bear pumpkins (large and white, as the name implies) are also available. Self-service stand is open daily.
All produce listed is Harvard grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
