Autumn is a special time in New England. For my family, September means an excursion to a local orchard for apple picking, apple cider, and apple donuts. Then in October, it is off to the farm for pumpkin picking.
For anyone who is new to New England, or somehow has never had a cider donut, let me tell you these are a delicious fall treat! The best donuts are fresh from the fryer, covered in cinnamon sugar. They have a delicate crust and a warm, bready interior that is redolent of apple cider and cinnamon. When you bite into one of these treats, it is heavenly. Yum!
If you feel inspired to make your own donuts, you can find good recipes on the internet. But why do that when there are so many great options right in the Concord area? You could buy cider donuts at the supermarket, but for my money, the best place is the local apple orchard or farm stand. Concord’s own Verrill Farm has delicious cider donuts, as well as a variety of pumpkins: large and small, white or yellow, oblong or round, and anything in between! Millbrook Farm is another great choice for cider donuts, as well as mums and other fall flowers - just down the road from the Concord Museum.
Wilson Farm in neighboring Lexington has award-winning cider donuts, made fresh onsite each weekend in the early fall. Great options also abound in nearby towns like Stow or Bolton where apple orchards are a legacy of Johnny Appleseed. Of the self-pick orchards in the Concord area, Shelburne Farm and Honeypot Hill Orchard are two of my favorites for cider donuts, especially with some freshly pressed, hot, cider. Or you can visit a slew of other farms in neighboring towns. We have a list of options for you on the next page.
As October rolls into Concord and the days and nights become even cooler, Halloween is just around the corner. Pumpkins, whether carved into beautiful jack-o-lanterns or displayed in your yard, are a true symbol of fall. These wonderful gourds fulfil the purpose of food, decoration, and even punch bowls for many of us. Pick-your-own pumpkin farms are close by and welcome the whole family, so bring the kids, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.
Wherever you go, make sure you stop by the farm stand after you finish your pumpkin picking to get some fresh baked goods, cider, or other farm produce.
You may want to plan out your visit to pick apples around your favorite varieties. Many of the orchards in the area post a schedule of which weeks are the best for the varieties they offer. Your favorite apple may only be available for a short time! Plan ahead to pick your faves!
Have a wonderful fall!
Resources:
Mass Department of Agriculture Pick your Own finder: https://massnrc.org/farmlocator/map.aspx?Type=PYO%20(Pick%20Your %20Own)
Cider Donut recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com recipe/235088/apple-cider-doughnuts/
DIY Pumpkin punchbowl: https://www.liquor.com/articles/pumpkin-punch-bowl/
©istock.com/XiXinXingWhere to look for delicious cider donuts near Concord:
Belkin Family Lookout Farm
89 Pleasant Street, Natick
lookoutfarm.com
(508) 651-1539
Carlson Orchards
115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard
carlsonorchards.com
(978) 456-3916
Carver Hill Orchard
101 Brookside Avenue, Stow
carverhillorchard.com
(978) 897-6117
Derby Ridge Farm
438 Great Road, Stow
derbyridgefarm.com
(978) 897-7507
Doe Orchards
327 Ayer Road, Harvard
doeorchards.com
(978) 772-4139
Drew Farm
31 Tadmuck Road, Westford
drewfarm.com
(978) 807-0719
Farmer Dave’s at Hill Orchard
4 Hunt Rd, Westford
facebook.com/westfordhillorchard
(978) 392-4600
Honey Pot Hill Orchard
138 Sudbury Road, Stow
honeypothill.com
(978) 562-5666
Millbrook Farm
215 Cambridge Tpke, Concord
(978) 429-3250
Nicewicz Family Farm
116 Sawyer Road, Bolton
nicewiczfarm.com
(978) 779-6423
Old Frog Pond Farm
38 Eldridge Road, Harvard
oldfrogpondfarm.com
(978) 456-9616
Schartner Farm
279 West Berlin Road, Bolton
schartnerfarm.com
(978) 779-6293
Shelburne Farm
106 West Acton Road, Stow
shelburnefarm.com
(978) 897-9287
Verrill Farm
11 Wheeler Road, Concord
verrillfarm.com
(978) 369-4494
Westward Orchards Farm Store
178 Massachusetts Ave. (Rt. 111), Harvard
westwardorchards.com
(978) 456-8363
Wilson Farm
10 Pleasant Street, Lexington
wilsonfarm.com
(781) 862-3900
Where to find the perfect pumpkin near Concord:
Barrett’s Mill Farm
449 Barrett’s Mill Road, Concord
barrettsmillsfarm.com
(978) 254-5609
Brigham Farm Stand & Greenhouses
82 Fitchburg Turnpike, Concord
brighamfarmconcordma.com
(978) 287-4334
Carlson Orchards
115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard
carlsonorchards.com
(978) 456-3916
Carver Hill Orchard
101 Brookside Avenue, Stow
carverhillorchard.com
(978) 897-6117
Clark Farm
201 Bedford Road, Carlisle
clarkfarmmarket.com
(978) 254-5427
Colonial Gardens Florist & Greenhouses
442 Fitchburg Turnpike, Concord
colonialgardensflorist.com
(978) 369-2554
Derby Ridge Farm
438 Great Road, Stow
derbyridgefarm.com
(978) 897-7507
Doe Orchards
327 Ayer Road, Harvard
doeorchards.com
(978) 772-4139
Dowse Orchard
30 Rockwood Street, Sherborn
dowseorchards.com
(508) 653-2639
Honey Pot Hill Orchard
138 Sudbury Road, Stow
honeypothill.com
(978) 562-5666
Hutchins Farm
754 Monument Street, Concord
hutchinsfarm.com
(978) 369-5041
Marshall Farm
171 Harrington Ave, Concord
marshallfarm.com
(978) 369-4069
Millbrook Farm
215 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord
(978) 429-3250
Nashoba Valley Winery Orchard & J’s Restaurant
100 Wattaquadoc Hill Road, Bolton
nashobawinery.com
(978) 779-5521
Nicewicz Family Farm
116 Sawyer Road, Bolton
nicewiczfamilyfarm.com
(978) 779-6423
Old Frog Pond Farm
38 Eldridge Road, Harvard
oldfrogpondfarm.com
(978) 456-9616
Rotondo Farm
737 Bedford Street, Concord
Schartner Farm
279 West Berlin Road, Bolton
schartnerfarm.com
(978) 779-5588
Scimone’s Farm
505 Old Bedford Road, Concord
(978) 337-8504
Shelburne Farm
106 West Acton Road, Stow
shelburnefarm.com
(978) 897-9287
Sunshine Farm
41 Kendall Avenue, Sherborn
sunshinefarmma.com
(508) 655-5022
Verrill Farm
11 Wheeler Road, Concord
verrillfarm.com
(978) 369-4494
The Walden Woods Project Farm
1047 Concord Turnpike, Concord
walden.org/property/ the-farm-at-walden-woods
(978) 369-2724
Westward Orchards Farm Store
178 Massachusetts Ave. (Rt. 111), Harvard
westwardorchards.com
(978) 456-8363
