This is the final farmstand column for the year. It’s been a challenging one for Harvard’s farmers and orchardists with the drought and the pandemic, but loyal customers have helped take some of the sting out of that. They still need your business, though, so please keep frequenting the stores that remain open, and check out websites to stay up to date with what’s happening during the winter and next spring at our local farms and orchards. See you next season.
Carlson Orchards, 115 Oak Hill Road, 978-456-3916
Apple-picking is over, but the store is stocked with Granny Smith, Red Rome, Evercrisp, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala, Mutsu, Cortland, Braeburn, Macoun, Empire, Golden Delicious, and McIntosh apples, as well as utility apples. The store also has soft and hard cider, and local products such as fresh pasta and sauce, cheese, milk, eggs, ice cream, honey, syrup, and Little Leaf lettuce. Thanksgiving pie order deadline is Nov. 16. Store is open daily year-round 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Online ordering with curbside pickup is available 11 a.m to 3 p.m. at https://order.shopkeep.com/2s4ac-carlson-orchards. The cider barn is open Thursdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Food trucks are sometimes at the barn on those days; check Facebook for the latest information.
www.carlsonorchards.com www.facebook.com/CarlsonOrchards
Doe Orchards, 327 Ayer Road, 978-772-4139
The stand will remain open until all apples are sold, probably before Thanksgiving, according to co-owner Pam Lawson. Check online for updates and information about hours and what’s on the stand as the days go by. There should be Empire, Cortland, Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, New England Red Delicious, McIntosh, and Golden Supreme. Lawson told the Press, “We have made the decision to not open for Christmas trees this year, a hard one to make, but we don’t want to have crowds and could not run the trailers for rides. We’ll look forward to next year with a lot of trees to sell!” The stand is currently open daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Old Frog Pond Farm, 38 Eldridge Road
The farmstand is closed, but events are held throughout the year; check the website for the latest information.
Westward Orchards, 178 Massachusetts Avenue, 978-456-8363
Apple-picking is over. At the store (open only for online ordering with porch or curbside pickup): Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Roxbury Russet, Fuji, Mutsu, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun, McIntosh, Gala, Red Jonathan, and Empire apples, and mixed varieties of pears. Tomatoes (regular, heirloom, and cherry), kale, regular and Japanese eggplant, cabbage, bell peppers, hot and specialty peppers, cauliflower, beets, regular and fingerling potatoes, mixed herbs, winter squash, pumpkins, gourds, and cornstalks. Westward’s produce will continue to be available until it runs out; the store also stocks market produce, as well as a variety of local products, including eggs, cheese, meat, bread, cider, pasta, honey, and syrup. Local seafood orders are taken twice a week. Thanksgiving pie order deadline is Nov. 10. Check the website for holiday gift shopping plans as the season gets closer. Store ordering and pickup remain open daily until Dec. 31, but hours may change later in the year; check the website.
Willard Farm, 218 Still River Road, 978-456-8291
At the self-serve farmstand, lots of gourds and some winter squash, including Delicata, Carnival, blue and orange Hubbard, acorn, buttercup, and butternut. Stand remains open until it “runs out of stuff or the weather gets too cold,” according to Paul Willard. Masks are required; one person per family only at the stand. Handwashing station available.
Masks and social distancing are requested at all sites.
All produce listed is Harvard-grown unless otherwise noted.
—Compiled by Joan Eliyesil
