Pick and choose: a list of area apple orchards and farms
Before you leave for picking, call the farm. Some have websites so you can check apple varieties and other activities. You can also call the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture (877-627-7476) or go to www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/apple_pyo.htm.
Amesbury: Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Ave. (978-388-5525), www.ciderhill.com. Daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m. I-95 to exit 58B (Amesbury) onto Route 110 west. Right onto Elm Street. Right at the rotary onto Market Street (Route 150). Go 1 mile. Right onto Fern Avenue. Farm on left.
Berlin: Berlin Orchards, Route 62 and 310 Sawyer Hill Road (978-838-2400), www.berlinorchards.com. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. I-495 North to Route 62 (exit 26) toward Berlin/Clinton. Left at the end of the ramp. Go 1/2 mile. Right onto Lower Sawyer Hill Road.
Bolton: Bolton Spring Farm, 159 East Main St. (Route 117) (978-779-2898), www.boltonspringfarm.com. Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. I-495 to Exit 27 on Route 117. Go east toward Stow for 2 miles; orchard on left.
Bolton: Nashoba Valley Winery and Orchard, 100 Wattaquadoc Hill Road (978-779-5521), www.nashobawinery.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mass. Pike or Route 2 west to I-495 to Exit 27. Go 1 mile west on Route 117 to Bolton Center. Left at the yellow light on Wattaquadoc Hill Road.
East Bridgewater: C.N. Smith Farm, 325 South St. (508-378-2270), www.cnsmithfarminc.com. Thurs.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. I-93 S to Route 24 S. Exit 16A (West Bridgewater). Stay on Route 106 east about 8 miles. Right at the YMCA onto South Street.
Fitchburg: Marshall Farm, 340 Marshall Road (978-342-4100), www.marshallfarm.com. Daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Route 2 west to Route 13 north to Route 2A west. Right at lights. Right at blinking light.
Groton: Autumn Hills Orchard, 495 Chicopee Row (978-448-8388), www.autumnhillsorchard.com. Daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Route 119 to Groton, right on Hollis (it turns into Chicopee Row).
Harvard: Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road (800-286-3916), www.carlsonorchards.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Route 2 west to Exit 38B. Go 1/4 mile. Right on Poor Farm Road.
Harvard: Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road (Routes 110/111) (978-772-4139), www.doeorchards.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Route 2 west to Exit 38B (Routes 110/111, Ayer/Groton exit). Go about 1 1/2 miles north.
Harvard: Westward Orchards Farm Store, Massachusetts Avenue (Route 111) (978-456-8363), www.westwardorchards.com. Daily, except Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Route 2 west to Route 111 south; go about 4 miles.
Ipswich: Russell Orchards, 143 Argilla Road (978-356-5366), www.russellorchardsma.com. Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. I-95N to Route 128 north. Follow to Exit 20A (Route 1A) to Route 133 in Ipswich. Follow signs for Crane Beach.
Lunenburg: Lanni Orchards, 294 Chase Road (Route 13) (978-582-6246). Daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Route 2 west to Route 13 north, 2 miles past Whalom Park.
North Andover: Barker’s Farm Stand, 1267 Osgood St. (978-683-0785). Daily 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. I-93N to Exit 41. Route 125N (Osgood) for 10 miles.
North Andover: Smolak Farms, 315 South Bradford St. (978-682-6332), www.smolakfarms.com. Daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. I-93 north to Exit 41 (Andover/North Andover, Route 125). Right at end of ramp. Follow Route 125 about 7 miles. Left at lights at Route 114. Right at next lights onto Route 125. Right at lights after 99 Restaurant. Go through North Andover. Bear left at fire station. Go 1 mile. Left at yellow light. Go 2 miles.
North Brookfield: Brookfield Orchards, Lincoln Road (877-622-7555), www.brookfieldorchardsonline.com. Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mass. Pike west to Sturbridge exit. Route 20 east, left to Route 49, left on Route 9.
Northborough: Tougas Family Farm, 246 Ball St. (508-393-6406), www.tougasfarm.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. I-495 to Exit 25B (Route I-290 west) to Exit 24 (Church Street). Turn right toward Boylston, take right onto Ball Street. Proceed 1 1/2 miles up hill.
Peabody: Brooksby Farm, 38 Felton St. (978-531-7456). Daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Route 128 north to Exit 25B west to Route 114. Go through three sets of lights. Left on Cross Street. Second right onto Felton.
Pepperell: Kimball Fruit Farm, 184 Hollis St. (Route 122 north on Mass.-N.H. border) (978-433-9751). Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Route 3 north to Tyngsboro-Dunstable exit. Bear right off ramp onto Route 113. Go 8 miles to rotary in center of Pepperell. Make 1/4 turn onto Route 111. Follow almost to N.H. line.
Phillipston: Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave. (978-249-6763), www.redapplefarm.com. Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Route 2 to Exit 19 from the east, Exit 18 from the west.
South Natick: Belkin Family Lookout Farm, 89 Pleasant St. South (508-653-0653), www.lookoutfarm.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Exit 21B off I-95/Route 128. Go 5 miles on Route 16 west into South Natick Square. Left onto Pleasant Street. Go about 1 mile.
Sterling: Clearview Farm, 4 Kendall Hill Road (978-422-6442), www.clearviewfarmstand.com. Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Route 2 west to Route 190 south or Mass. Pike west to I-495 north to Route 62. Go through Clinton.
Sterling: Davis’ Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Road (978-422-6666), www.davisfarmland.com. Thurs.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Route 2 west to I-190 south to exit 6.
Stow: Carver Hill Orchard, Brookside Avenue, off Route 62 (978-897-6117), www.carverhill.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Routes 117 and 62 to Stow Center. Left at lights, 1/2 mile to Brookside Avenue on left.
Stow: Honey-Pot Hill Orchards, 144 Sudbury Road (978-562-5666), www.honeypothill.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Route 2 west to Route 62 exit. Go 7 miles into Stow.
Stow: Shelburne Farm, 106 West Acton Road (978-897-9287), www.shelburnefarm.com. Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Route 117, right on Crescent Street (about 1/4 mile after the Stowe Shopping Center). Go to end. Right on West Acton Road.
Sturbridge: Hyland Orchard & Brewery, 199 Arnold Road, Sturbridge (774-200-1696), www.hylandorchard.com. Sat.-Sun. noon-6 p.m. Mass. Pike west to Exit 9. Take Route 20 west. Go 1.7 miles to Arnold Road. Go 2 miles.
Sutton: Keown Orchard, 9 McClellan Road (508-865-6706), www.keownorchards.com. Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mass Pike West to Exit 10A. Route 146S to Central Turnpike East. Second left on Dodge Hill Road. First right on McClellan.
Tyngsborough: Parlee Farms, Farwell Road (978-649-3854), www.parleefarm.com. Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Route 3 north to Exit 34. Right onto Westford Road. Go 1 mile to the lights. Left onto Middlesex Road. Second right onto Farwell Road. Go 1 mile.
Warren: Breezelands Orchards, 1791 Southbridge Road (413- 436-7122), www.breezelands orchards.com. Daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Take Mass Pike West to Exit 9 (Sturbridge). Follow 20 west for 2 miles, Route 148 north for 4 miles. First left after the high school.
Westford: Drew Farms, Tadmuck Road (978-807-0719), www.drewfarms.com. Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. I-495 to Exit 32. Take Boston Road to Route 110. Left onto 110, left onto Tadmuck Road.
West Newbury: Long Hill Orchard, 520 Main St. (978-363-2170). Daily 10 a.m-6 p.m. I-95 north to Exit 57. West on Route 113 for 3 miles. 