Acton Eats: The Orchards of Stow

Part 1 of a series

So, you still haven't bought your fall apples and your Halloween pumpkins yet? Not to worry. The autumn bounty is still plentiful and the foliage in Eastern Massachusetts hasn't even peaked yet. Weather permitting, the next two weekends will be great for getting outdoors to visit the area's orchards and farm stands.

Best of all, the Columbus Day crowds have come and gone. During the holiday weekend, the population at some of the local orchards was larger than that of some small cities I've seen.

The year 2009 has been marvelous for apples. The heavy rain that drowned many crops and abetted the tomato blight made for plump and plentiful apples. And if you're looking to go apple picking, you need look no further than the town of Stow, home to at least three orchards where you can pick your own fruit right off the tree.

My family's favorite of the trio is Honey Pot Hill Orchards (www.honeypothill.com, 978-562-5666), located at 144 Sudbury Road. If you're looking for apples, this is the place to go. Honey Pot Hill grows and sells 25 different types, from Baldwin to Winesap. Early varieties like Paula Reds and Gravensteins have come and gone, but Empire, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Spencer, Macoun, and Cortland apples are ripe for the picking. More varieties should appear still later in the season. (Maybe we'll get some Spartans, if we're lucky.) If you're not sure what type of apple you're interested in, baskets of sample apples are available for tasting in the farm store. Whatever you decide, prices for PYO are $15 for a 10-pound bag and $21 for a 20-pound bag.

Unlike many orchards, Honey Pot Hill presses its cider at its own cider mill. It's also famous for its cider donuts, which are served while still warm and crisp. Caramel apples (with or without nuts) are made fresh and can be consumed at the orchard or taken home in specially designed plastic containers. You can also grab a hot dog for lunch at the stand outside or buy your next Jack o'Lantern from pumpkins picked from Honey Pot Hill's 12-acre pumpkin patch. As of our last visit, the farm store still had some nice looking seckel pears for sale.

Honey Pot Hill also has activities for all ages. You can walk the grounds and visit the farm animals, or go on a hayride through the orchards. Children and adults alike will enjoy the hedge maze, said to be a replica of the labyrinth at Hampton Court in England, and kids 4-9 can also make their way through the indoor tunnel maze. Hayrides should run through November 2 and are $1 per person. The fee for both mazes is $3 on weekends and $1.50 on weekdays.

Another popular destination is Shelburne Farm (www.shelburnefarm.com, 978-897-9287), which claims to be the oldest pick-your-own orchard in Eastern Massachusetts. Located at 106 West Acton Road, Shelburne Farm lets you harvest your own apples at $16 for a peck (about 10 pounds) or $23 for half a bushel (about 20 pounds). Varieties that should be ready for picking this weekend include McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, Macoun, Spencer, Mutsu, Ida Red, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Baldwin. Pick-your-own pumpkins are also available, at 60 cents per pound.

If all that picking makes you hungry, the concession stand at Shelburne Farm features freshly baked cookies and turnovers, cider donuts, croissant sandwiches, caramel and candy apples, and Richardson's ice cream. And at the farm store, you can pick up jugs of cider, blocks of Vermont cheddar cheese, jams and jellies, maple syrup, and other harvest products.

Shelburne Farm also offers hay rides ($2 per person) and pony rides ($5), and a $5 fun pass allows the kiddies to spend all day on the moon bounce, pedal tractors, hay mountain, and other attractions. Visiting the llamas, goats, sheep, and other farm animals is free.

For a quieter, more idyllic experience, Carver Hill Orchards (www.carverhill.com, 978-897-6117) is a bit more off the beaten path, at 101 Brookside Avenue. You won't find a carnival-like atmosphere here, but you will find plenty of pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. Prices for PYO apples are a little cheaper here, as well, $12 for a peck and $20 for a half bushel. Types still available include McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Rome Beauty. Carver recommends the latter for cooking and baking.

The small store at Carver Hill sells colorful chrysanthemums, winter squash, cider, and quilted gifts, while a stand in front sells hot dogs, caramel apples, and fresh apple crisp. In keeping with the harvest theme, the ice cream (also from Richardson's) features flavors such as apple crisp and pumpkin.

Next: The Farm Stands of Route 119