Massachusetts is at its finest when it comes to fresh, locally-grown produce in autumn. From strawberries and melons to hearty pumpkins - Massachusetts truly shines bright with its bounty!
Multiple weather events have hindered farmers this year, yet harvesting remains underway. Find out where you can pick apples or tour cranberry bogs this fall to celebrate our state's rich agricultural legacy!
Farmer’s Markets
At farmer's markets, you're sure to find farm-fresh foods at unbeatable prices. These outdoor food marketplaces connect residents and tourists with regional farmers and artisans while supporting the community economy and social fabric - plus providing healthy eating habits and fresh organic options unavailable at your average supermarket!
Produce markets offer the perfect place to stock up on produce during the growing season - the time period between the last frost in spring and the first frost in fall - when produce tastes best. Here, fruits and vegetables harvested when at their ripest taste better than anything found at grocery stores.
Massachusetts growing season highlights include strawberries and raspberries in June, peaches and apples between mid-July and August, and pumpkins in October. Many locations also provide pick-your-own experiences so that visitors can pick out exactly the fruits or vegetables that appeal directly from the source.
These markets not only sell local produce, but they often also host other vendors selling locally-produced food and goods such as artisan bakers, cheese makers, honey producers, and artisan bread makers. Many markets feature volunteers to assist visitors in navigating between stalls as they answer any queries regarding seasonal offerings or cooking them properly.
There are farmers' markets all across the state, making it easy to locate one close to your location. Use this MAP as a quick and effective way to search, and even filter for winter markets!
Boston's downtown district is home to several bustling farmers markets, including Roslindale Village Main Street Market and Dewey Square Farmers Market, both featuring Caribbean produce like callaloo as well as Latin American favorites such as tamarindo and bitter oranges. Dewey Square Farmers Market also hosts wellness-oriented activities like yoga and dance classes for an array of shoppers.
East Boston's Eastie Farmers Market, established last summer, serves to support East Boston's immigrant communities by providing authentic foods from their respective homelands - including traditional tomatoes, corn, and beans, hierba mora papalo water spinach bok choy collard greens as well as hierba. You can even participate in cultural exchange events like Trike Called Funk or visit Karate Studios! Additionally, there are cooking and nutrition workshops held regularly by vendors offering their goods or services at these markets!
Pumpkin Festivals
Fall is the time of year when residents and tourists alike flock to pumpkin festivals, ranging from farm stands with pumpkin patches and hayrides to elaborate corn mazes or even haunted houses - most are designed for children of all ages to have fun! Some may require a fee to enter mazes or activities; see this map to locate one near you!
Phillipston hosts one of the largest pumpkin festivals in New England each year. At this annual event, organizers seek to break a world record for the largest gourd by staging an exciting weight-off competition and fun-filled festivities that culminate with a madcap Pumpkin Derby event for prize-winning gourds weighing over 100 lbs being paraded through town and dropped onto derelict trucks or prepped for display at one or all three sites - sure to warm anyone's heart who enjoys pumpkins!
Ward's Berry Farm in Sharon, MA offers over 100,000 pumpkins for shoppers to pick out! Perfect for family outings and kids alike, there are standard gourds as well as specialty varieties like Cinderella and Ghost gourds to select from here. Kids will also love taking hop-on hayrides around the farm while exploring an array of barnyard animals!
Northboro residents should visit Tougas Family Farm for an unforgettable family experience, featuring pumpkin picking and playground fun as well as friendly animals in its barnyard. In addition, its Barn Kitchen serves delicious food and sweet treats while free wagon rides run daily during peak season!
Boston Common's annual Pumpkin Float offers a relaxing way to commemorate autumn: illuminated jack-o-lanterns are floated onto Frog Pond each October alongside kid-friendly activities and live music performances.
There's even an entire festival dedicated to garlic! For something adventurous, check out Orange's Garlic and Arts Fest or Berkshire Garlic & Wine Festival for their culinary offerings. Eater maps are created by editors and aim to present an accurate representation of neighborhoods, cuisines, prices, and more - read about their editorial process here.
Apple Picking
As summer fades and harvest begins, Massachusetts residents and tourists can visit local farms and orchards for an authentic New England experience. Apple picking is an especially fun activity with children; crisp air and vibrant autumnal colors create the ideal atmosphere for family fun with some delicious take-home goodies as rewards!
At Cider Hill Farm in Groton near the New Hampshire border, apple-picking trips are truly worth making an outing of it. Offering everything from corn mazes and animal encounters to donuts and cider donuts - plus an impressive array of heirloom varieties like Ginger Gold to Zestar - Cider Hill makes for an incredible family day out!! It's open from Labor Day weekend through October for everyone who's curious.
Dowse Orchard in Sherborn is another great spot for an authentic New England apple-picking experience, located within MetroWest Boston. This 200-year-old family farm offers many activities but is most renowned for its seasonal harvests of Macouns and Cortlands apples as well as providing visitors with pumpkin patches and hayrides each fall.
Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton offers an authentic apple-picking experience and is committed to maintaining a healthy environment without using dangerous pesticides. They offer family-friendly activities such as wagon rides and art in the orchard walking sculpture trails as well as offering farm store products like golumpki and kapusta from their bakery.
Doe Orchard in Westfield provides another wonderful option for family fun apple picking: its 46 varieties span from Ambrosia to Zestar. Furthermore, Doe Farm features a great spring plant nursery as well as seasonal pick-your-own opportunities with strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes.
Post a Comment