Autumn is Apple Picking Season

In the US there are six New England States – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In the 1920s a New Hampshire farmer had the idea of getting people from the big city of Boston, Massachusetts to come out to apple orchards and pick their own apples. The idea caught on and today agritourism is a special feature of the New England States. Visitors can enjoy picking apples, drinking cider, and enjoying hayrides among other things.

Connecticut

Lyman Orchards are located in Middlefield, Connecticut. Middlefield is a town in the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The orchards have a history of over 275 years. In 1830 the farm was headed by William Lyman, a leader of the abolitionist movement and a supporter of the Underground Railroad. From this family came a long line of entrepreneurs who helped incorporate the town and build railroads. Today Lyman Orchards have become one of the most popular family attractions in Connecticut.

Lyman Orchards features family-friendly events, pick-your-own-fruit, a farm market, award-winning pies, sunflower and corn mazes, and a year-round golf course.

Massachusetts

Lookout Farm is located in Natick, Massachusetts. Natick is part of the Greater Boston area. The farm was founded in 1650 by Puritan missionary John Elliot and a small group of settlers. They paddled down the Charles River in canoes and established their farm on the banks of the river. In 1761 Captain David Morse bought the farm and worked and lived there with his family for 75 years. In 1894 when Charles Whittemore and his borthers took over the farm got its name Lookout Farm. In 2005 John and Steve Belking bought it.

Today the farm has 180 acres with 60,000 fruit trees, a pick-your-own-fruit business, and a hard cider taproom. They also sell holiday pies and seasoned firewood. Eleven varieties of apples are grown along with Asian pears, pumpkins, peaches, plums, nectarines, and strawberries.

New Hampshire

Applecrest Farms are located in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. In the late 19th century when the railroad arrived to the New Hampshire seacoast farmers could ship milk, apples, potatoes, and lumber to Boston, Massachusetts. A farmer in Hampton Falls came up with the idea to bring tourists once a week from Boston to his farm aboard the Apple Train so they could pick their own apples. Four generation of the Wagner family have continued to farm the land.

Applecrest Farms has a 200-year-old barn on their 2256-acre farm with buildings that date to the 18th century. The farm offers pick-your-own apples, hayrides in season, apple cider, and farm-to-table dining at their Farm Bistro. Their Idared apples date back to 1942 and were developed in Idaho as a cross between the Jonathan and Wagener.

Rhode Island

Steere Orchard is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island. At one time historic Smithfield has so many orchards it was called “Apple Valley”. Unfortunately a great many trees were destroyed during the Great Hurricane of 1938.

Today Steere Orchards in the Smithfield Village of Greenville, Rhode Island is the largest orchard in the state. Arthur W, Steere and his son, Henry J, Steere started the orchard and now it is run by Arthur’s grandson John and great-grandson Jim.

Steere Orchards features pick-your-own-apples with 12 varieties to choose from among them Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, Cortland, Red and Golden Delicious, Macintosh and the famous Rhode Island Greening.

Vermont

Southern Vermont Orchards are located in Bennington, Vermont, They were established by Edward Hamlin Everett in 1910. He planted 75,000 apple trees, 3,000 plum trees, and 2,000 quince trees. There are 65 varieties of apples, cherries, quince, pears, and plums. This is the largest privately owned orchard in the world.

Southern Vermont Orchards offers pick-your-own-fruit and cider, wine, and beer tastings.