We’re now halfway through October, and pumpkins have taken their rightful seats on the front porches, kitchen tables, mantle places, and lawns of homes all over town. You’ve got your classic “Jack-o-Lantern” pumpkins, comparative giants next to “mini” pumpkins. Both are decorative cultivars whose sole missions in life are to breathe “fall charm” into the world. Their quirkiness, and in some cases downright ugliness (in the ugly-adorable sort of way), makes them endearing. So endearing, in fact, that every year, … Keep Reading

Google “Big Three Apples” if you want to read about rivalries between Apple, Microsoft, and Google. But here on the farm at least, “Big Three Apples” refers to our three most prized pick-your-own varieties: McIntosh, Cortland, and Macoun. If we’re lucky, for a couple magical weekends each year, these apples ripen simultaneously. This happens to be one of those magical weekends! These three apple varieties have more in common than their popularity and their harvest dates. Genetically, McIntosh is a … Keep Reading

No matter where you look . . . whether in old cookbooks, or modern farm catalogues, or random pockets of the Internet … descriptions of apple varieties seem to always assign them to the same main categories: fresh eating, cider, pie, and sauce. Of these, sauce is the most overlooked. Apple sauce is often relegated to the kids’ section of the fridge, or reserved for a once-a-year fall cooking project. But it shouldn’t be! We’re here to tell you that … Keep Reading

What do all the apples below in common? They’re all the same variety! Williams’ Pride. Also, they all taste like fall. These stunning apples turn a deep, purple-tinted shade of red when ripe. Like all summer apples, their season is fleeting. Luckily, however, Williams’ Pride apples ripen successively on the tree rather than all at once, extending their harvest period slightly. That’s why you’re likely to find a range of differently sized and hued apples on the branches right now, … Keep Reading

The Yellow Transparent is an old Russian apple first brought to the U.S. in order to withstand the harsh winters of the midwest. They became a fast favorite in New England, too, where they (ironically) also thrived under hot and humid conditions. They’re beloved for their complex flavor and a smooth texture that lends itself to apple sauce. We have several customers who time their yearly summer apple-picking visit to line up with their peak, likely for that very reason. … Keep Reading

It’s true. When you think of apple picking, summer is probably not the season that comes to mind. Here’s the thing, though: apples start at the end of July or early August. If you reference our approximate harvest dates page, we grow several lesser known varieties that come and go well before the seasons change. Generally speaking, the time each apple is ready to harvest depends on what variety it is, which essentially boils down to that particular apple’s rate … Keep Reading