We’re in peak apple season here in Harvard, and that includes the drinkable form—fresh apple cider. All of our local orchards are selling apple cider right now, either made with their own apples or with apples grown nearby. Fresh apple cider is made by crushing the apples then pressing them to extract their juice. Filtering (and sometimes sweetening) the result creates apple juice; little or no filtering (and no sweetening) gives us its tangier, more flavorful cousin, cider. From there, fermenting can turn it into hard cider. Or, with a few ingredients, a little baking prowess, and a deep fryer, it can be turned into that perfect fall treat, the apple cider doughnut. A magical elixir, made locally, and worthy of a spot on your refrigerator shelf this first week of October.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Pick-your-own McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, Empire, Ambrosia, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Northern Spy apples, as well as cut-your-own sunflowers and zinnias. Check Facebook for daily updates. Available in the store are McIntosh, Macoun, Cortland, Gala, Ginger Gold, and Honeycrisp apples, as well as Carlson’s apple cider (regular, Honeycrisp, and Gala), and flower bouquets. Also in the store are corn, butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash; pickling cucumbers, zucchini, and green peppers from Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, New Hampshire.
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, Gala, Jonagold Red, and Cortland apples. At the stand are all the pick-your-own varieties along with Honeycrisp, McIntosh, and two heirlooms, Wickson Crab and Hubbardston Nonesuch. Gourds and pumpkins are also available at the stand, along with Box Mill Farm’s apple cider (with Doe’s apples in the mix).
Stand and pick-your-own are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays except holidays.
Good Spirits Farm, 106 East Bare Hill Road
service farmstand (and adjacent shed) this week: raspberries, blackberries, (no-spray) Redfield cider apples and Kieffer pears, winter squash, including acorn, butternut, and honeynut. Also: tomatoes, zucchini, Russian, Scotch, 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 flower bouquets with dahlias and zinnias.
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 closed for the season. Available at the self-service stand on the front porch are the farm’s certified organic apples, raspberries, Asian pears, tomatoes, and peppers, along with the farm’s own fresh-pressed, unpasteurized apple cider, 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.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Pick-your-own apples; recommended varieties to pick are Empire, Macoun, Golden Delicious, 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, Golden Russet, Golden Delicious, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, and Cortland apples; Bosc, Asian, and Bartlett pears; strawberries; and mixed plums. Also Westward’s own tomatoes (including heirloom and cherry), lettuce, kale, winter squash, peppers, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, beets, cabbage, carrots, mixed potatoes, mixed herbs, and apple cider from Bolton Orchards.
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, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green and yellow peppers, Yukon gold potatoes, radishes, yellow and red onions, zucchini, eggplant, shallots, garlic, winter squash (including acorn, butternut, honeynut, and delicata), pumpkins, mini pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, and flowers. Box Mill Farm’s apple cider (made in Ayer using local apples) 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
