This is the latest in an ongoing series in which readers are invited to share their favorite spots in and around Southborough. For more in the series, click here.
Above: Enjoying an apple at Tougas Farm in Northborough
We’ve talked about this one on the blog before, but with a fresh crop of apples upon us, it’s worth asking again: What are your favorite places to go apple picking?
There is certainly no shortage of apple picking spots in our area. When you go, are you there just for the apples? Or do you like more of an “experience” – hay rides, activities for the kids, cider and donuts? Which area farms best fit your apple-picking style? Share your favorites and why you love them in the comments.
And while we’re at it, what are your favorite ways to enjoy your apple haul? Pie? Sauce? Straight out of hand? Recipes welcomed!
I love apple season second only to blueberry season. I pick at Tougas in Northborough. Wonderful svariety of apples and peaches and other treats.
Im too lazy to pick my own. But I buy them at Honey Pot in Stow.
I haven’t gone apple picking in a few years, but used to enjoy Tougas as well. I love to make applesauce, apple crisp, apple tarts and apple pies. The peeling and chopping takes a while, but it’s worth it. We love to have a bag for eating, too. Half the family insists on cold, crispy apples from the fridge and the other half likes them at room temperature, so some are kept in a bowl on the counter.
If you are heading up to NH off RT 3 in Hollis, Lull Farm is an old favorite from my old “pre-Southborough” stomping grounds — this is our first apple season here and looking forward to checking out Tougas with the kids.
I love Tougas as well–for apples, tasty treats from their kitchen, berry picking and more. This year I “liked” them on Facebook and they send daily updates about what is almost ripe for picking, what is at peak, what they have a limited supply of, and when they close a field temporarily to allow more fruit to ripen (saving you a trip to find something closed!). I’ve found these updates really valuable in order to time my trips for certain fruit. I was there last weekend for apple picking and I couldn’t believe how many wonderful baking-apple varieties were ready to be picked. The trees were so jam-packed with apples it took no time at all to pick a 1/2 bushel of 5 varieties!
Shelburne Farm (Stow)
I agree with Alexandra – love the updates of FB from Tougas. That said, our family is headed to Honey Pot tomorrow. My students (I teach) RAVE about Honey Pot and I want to see what all the talk is about!!
Beth, How was honey pot? Expensive, busy, picked through? I’m looking for a place to go this weekend.
For apples we go to George Hill Orchard in Lancaster. I make lots and lots of sauce, and they’re one of the few places with half-price for “drops”. That is good enough for sauce. For berries we go to Indian Head in Berlin, 2 minutes past Solomon Pond Mall. Used to go to Tougas, but it is too agri-tourism now. Indian Head is a true family farm that I love supporting. Their prices are better than Tougas also.
We went to Tougas yesterday and I was a little surprised that a 1/2 bushel was $27 and it allows 5 people into the orchard. I thought it was expensive. Some of the other area orchards are a bit cheaper. I felt bad for the people next to us in line because they had a bunch of kids so there was 7 of them and they were making them buy 2 bags to get everybody in the orchard and I don’t think that is fair. I almost asked if I could “borrow” 2 of her kids because there was only 2 of us. I think they could have been a bit more reasonable about letting them in. Most of the group were kids around 7 or so. You go with what you know so we did Tougas.
Wow! Ouch! The drops I buy at George Hill (which are almost always perfect – many branches are inches from the ground and the apples drop into tall, cushiony grass) cost $5/half bushel and $9/bushel! I picked 2 bushels for $18 last year. I don’t know this year’s prices yet, but they’re probably about the same. But their off-the-tree prices were about double drops, which is still a lot less expensive than Tougas. GH only allows drops on weekdays. I weighed them when I got home and it was 82 pounds of apples. GH says they are “a family farm for families”. It might be worth a bit longer drive to Lancaster sometime!