Apple season

[hazelhurst]

What's the story this year? I head it is supposed to be a thin year and I want to send some as a birthday present in early October. I called Dowse's a couple of weeks ago and they hadn't started but I also couldn;t get a predection on the duration. Somewhere I heard/read that things would be over in a really short time.

Any advice is appreciated.

[FinnFPM]

For those who've yet to do their picking, Carlson Orchard up in Harvard, MA is in full-swing. We went today and their trees are overflowing with Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Fuji, Northern Spy, Red Rome, Golden Delicious, and probably a few that I'm missing. And yes, cider donuts (but no cider donut sundae).

[cheesehead in recovery]

hazelhurst.... curious if you got your screen name from a small resort town in Northern WI. Its a place I'm quite fond of!!!

[stupiddog]

I live in Stow, the apples are starting to come in, I'd say about 2/3 of the crop is ready. I would recommend Carver Orchards and Shelburne Farms over Honey Pot. Carver if you just want to pick apples in a rural place off the road. Shelburne if you want the whole experience with hay rides, stuff for kids, etc.

[viperlush]

Does anyone have any updates on apple picking? Which orchards still look promising/still picking and which are done for the season?

[Madrid]

I got an email newsletter from Cider Hill in Amesbury yesterday saying they still have a lot to pick.

[viperlush]

Do you know what types? I can't find any info on their site.

[Madrid]

"
A week of rain, mist and dreary days might make us feel like fall is over, but you can still enjoy a day at our farm when the weather turns nice this weekend. What apples we have remaining are at their peak of flavor. You can still pick these:
McIntosh - few
Cortland - few
Macoun -
Early Fuji
Gala
Jonagold
Mutsu
Jonathan
Ambrosia
Red Delicious
Fortune
Melrouge
Staybrite
Northern Spy
Braeburn
Arkansas Black - few"

[viperlush]

Thanks again for the recommendation. BF and I went apple picking today. When we got there at 10:30 the lot was half full and was full by the time we left around 1. The variety of apple available was overwhelming, so I ended up buying some in the store because I missed some varieties in the orchards. Luckily we finished picking and got back to the store as a fresh batch of cider donuts were placed in the case. Light and fluffy they were some of the best that we've had. Hot cider was also great. Reasonably priced at $1.89/lb.

[lc02139]

Rte 2 and 495 Shelburne farms website says they are still picking many of the late crop apples jonagold, empire on their website, I haven't been this year but have picked there for many years.
Great cider as well as donuts.
http://www.shelburnefarm.com/

[ladym16]

I picked at Shelburne Farm in Stowe this weekend and they had a great variety: macoun, macs, cortlands, empires and fuji. You could still pick a full galas if you found them on the trees and they have honeycrisp in the store. Their roped-off rows looked promising, so should have another coupld of weeks for picking. A little crowded with all the kiddies running about, but once you got into the orchard no problems.

[11earl]

Cider Hill in Amesbury has an excellent crop. Macs are pretty much done, but Macoun and other varieties still going strong.

[croutonweb]

We went to Russel Orchard in Ipswich this Sunday and had an apple variety that was completely new to me: Gingergold. Thin-skinned, sweet and non-dense texture (is there a word for that... rarified?) We got there at 11AM and there were lots of people, but no traffic getting there.When we left (2-ish) there was a line of cars waiting to get in about a half mile long.

[Karl S]

Gingergold has been around area orchards for at least 15 years, if not more. It got eclipsed by Honeycrisp. My favorite newer variety is Suncrisp (at least in years when we don't get tons of rain), but the hot new variety of the moment is Sweet Tango. I prefer late season type apples (tart or at least subacid, crisp and firm, good keepers).

[Karl S]

Well, I had one of the weirdest apple season experiences ever on Friday, though it was not local, it might be a harbinger of the local season. I was on the North Fork of Long Island, and a farmstand had local Russet apples. Russet apples. On the last day of summer. Russet apples, traditionally, are a late season apple (think early-mid November). I was gobsmacked. Oh, and they were tight, juicy and tart, the way they should be.

Weird.

[BlueMagic]

I got some great Cortlands at Ingaldsby Farm in Boxford last weekend. The were a little smaller than usual..but tasted great. The pick your own was going strong.

[deweyweber54]

All - Made our second trip to Phil's Apples in Harvard today for a couple of gallons of his most excellent cider. Macintosh this time of year, but as mentioned above, their orchard experienced a nasty frost last spring.
If you're looking for some of the best unpasteurized cider around, we'd recommend a trip before the limited crop disappears.

Cheers!

[Madrid]

try cider hill farm in amesbury. because of their geographical location, I think, I read that they have most of their usual crop this year. also great unpasteurized cider and cider donuts.

[BlueMagic]

I tried the Cider Hill farm cider and donuts for the first time last Friday..delicious!!

[Florida Hound]

The New England conversation struck a chord with this ChowHound in Florida. I always enjoy "real" apple cider during the season (when available down here), and it is already appearing in some stores here. Last week I said to my wife, "No, its too early. We'll pick some up closer to Thanksgiving." Maybe we should pick some up after all, enjoy a few sips in early October and consider ourselves lucky. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Karl S]

There is no such thing as real apple cider in stores. It's all been killed (pasteurized), by FDA requirement since earlier in the last decade. Real - living, that is - cider is only available directly from orchards. The stuff in the supermarket is just cloudy dead apple juice.

[StriperGuy]

I think that is a bit extreme.

[PinchOfSalt]

Last Saturday I went to Phil's Apples in Harvard and they said that that would probably be their last day for the season. The spring frost hit them hard. They said they lost 90 percent of their crop. They recommended Doe's to us. We went there too and they had plenty of apples.

[hazelhurst]

Thanks to everyone..looks like Oct 10 might be a gamble. Maybe if I order next week I can get it in. I just wish I could get Dowse's cider but it doesn;t travel.

[josephlapusata]

Honey Pot in Stow is currently picking.

[Bob Dobalina]

We usually go to their neighbor, Carver Hill. Smaller, basic - usually have decent Macouns but they were gone already - also mentioned the weird weather over the winter and losing a lot of buds to frost.

We got decent Cortlands and Romes - $12/peck PYO.

Decent cider donuts and cider. Worth it to us not to have the circus at Honey Pot.

[Gio]

The Alfalfa Farm apple orchard has opened for U-Pick and on last Saturday we got some delicious and succulent Cortlands and Macintosh apples. Other varieties to follow in the coming weeks. The orchard is across from the winery...
http://www.alfalfafarmwinery.com/

Wilson Farm in Lextington also has their own apples for sale...
http://www.wilsonfarm.com/inside.html

As does Tendercrop in Newbury...
http://www.tendercropfarms.com/

[Gio]

Macouns are ready at Alfalfa Farm. We got some really tasty ones on Saturday..

[FinnFPM]

Autumn Hills in Groton is currently picking, and yes, I heard from them that they expect a very weird, early, and short season, though I didn't get much in the way of details.

http://www.autumnhillsorchard.com/