The apple crop is beautiful this year, according to Doe Orchards’ Pam Lawson, but a few of our orchards also grow another autumn fruit – pears. The website usapears.org says that, while Asian pears are typically picked when they are ripe, European pears such as Bartlett and Bosc must be picked before they ripen. So a few days before you’re ready to eat or bake with your European pears, leave them at room temperature. You’ll know they are ripe when they give a bit when pressed near the stem end; Bosc pears give a little less than Bartlett. And while you’re waiting for the pears to ripen, you can work on that still life drawing you’ve always wanted to try.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road
Pick-your-own Cortland, McIntosh, Royal Gala, Honeycrisp, and Northern Spy apples. Macoun and Empire might be ready by the weekend; check the Facebook page. In the store, peaches, nectarines, and all the apples that are available for picking except Northern Spy. Brookdale Fruit Farm’s corn, tomatoes (including organic cherry tomatoes), red and green peppers, zucchini, and winter squash, including Acorn, Butternut, Delicata, and Blue Hubbard. Pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, local eggs, mums, and Montauk daisies also available. Store is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick-your-own hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. www.carlsonorchards.com
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road
Pick-your-own Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, Ruby Mac, Cortland, Fuji, Macoun, and Golden Supreme apples. At the stand, yellow free-stone peaches, all the apple varieties being picked except Fuji and Macoun, and Doe’s honey, pumpkins, and gourds. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.doeorchards.com
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
Pick-your-own raspberries and apples this weekend, Sept. 28 and 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Asian, Bartlett, and Bosc pears, tomatoes, melons, squash, garlic, eggplant, and other vegetables, as well as eggs and Frog Pond’s honey and blueberry jam at the self-serve stand. All produce is certified organic. www.oldfrogpondfarm.com
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue
Pick-your-own Gala, McIntosh, Cortland, and Macoun apples. In the store, nectarines and yellow peaches, as well as Gala, Ginger Gold, McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, and Honeycrisp apples and Bartlett pears. Tomatoes (regular, heirloom, and cherry), potatoes, lettuce, kale, collard greens, eggplant, Japanese eggplant, broccoli, summer squash, winter squash, leeks, mixed-color peppers, beets, herbs, and fresh-cut flowers. Store is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., picking till 4 p.m. daily. Wagon rides to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch on weekends only, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.westwardorchards.com
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road
White, yellow, and Providence bicolor corn. Tomatoes, including Roma, Pink Girl, uglies and almost-uglies. Acorn, Buttercup, Butternut, Carnival, Delicata, Red Kuri, and Spaghetti squash; Blue Hubbard should be available by the weekend. Lots of large pumpkins, as well as White Polar Bear and Ghost pumpkins. And “Rouge Vif D’Etampes,” an heirloom French pumpkin, known also as the Cinderella pumpkin because of its resemblance to the coach in the fairy tale; all at the self-serve farmstand. www.facebook.com/Willard-Farm
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
Brookdale Fruit Farm is in Hollis, New Hampshire.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
Butternut squash is one of the organic offerings at Old Frog Pond Farm. (Photo by Jenn Mannel)
