'Tis the Season to Pick-Your-Own

Connecticut farmers, like those across the nation, are constantly at the mercy of Mother Nature.  This year, the state was hit with an abundance of snow during the winter months and a large helping of rain and cool temperatures during the spring. How is that going to affect the upcoming season for local pick-your-own fruits and vegetables farms?

The general consensus of central Connecticut farmers is that the only really negative effect of all this wet weather will be later-than-usual crops. Last year, due to the dry, hot conditions this time of year, crops came up earlier than usual.

Despite this, Linda Piotrowicz with the state Department of Agriculture said the season is "so far, so good."

"Everything seems to be catching up," Piotrowicz said Friday morning.

Most of the farmers agree that at this point, the rest of the crops this year should catch up and get back on track as long as the weather conditions are “normal.”

“Now we are just concerned about the selling-season weather," said Henry Talmage, executive director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau.

“The weather during the harvest season is just as important as the weather during the growing season in order to ensure the on-farm sales,” he added.

Talmage, who praises the recent resurgence of interest in local foods and support of local farmers, said, “all the pieces need to work together or it is a challenge for the farmers.”

According to the state Dept. of Ag's list of pick-your-own farms in the state, 10 are located in Tolland County, while Hartford County boasts 15.

Another Web site, FreshFarm.org, provides a map of the farms in eastern Connecticut and links to some of the sites Internet pages. Other sites that list pick-your-own farms in the region are PickYourOwn.org and EdibleCommunities.com.

The growing trend to acquire produce that is as fresh as possible, and the importance of knowing where your food comes from has made pick-your-own farms and farmers' markets exceedingly popular in recent years, Piotrowicz said. Although the department does not track such farms, Piotrowicz said she's seen an increase in the voluntary participation of farmers in the department's annual pick-your-own brochure.

"Many people are starting to grown their own gardens, but still many do not have the space and time to devote to growing their own food," she said. At a pick-your-own farm the customers can pick nearly as much as they want and know exactly what went into growing that food, she said.

Besides, it's a great family activity and exercise, she added.

"And it doesn't get any fresher than picking it directly off the plant," Piotrowicz said.

For a list of farms in Tolland and Hartford counties click the links above. For a sampling of farms in Patch's north central Connecticut region pulled from the state Dept. of Ag’s Web site see below:

Brown's Harvest         

1911 Poquonock Ave.

Windsor, CT  06095

860-683-0266

Family fun! Weekend hayrides to patch. Kids groups weekdays by appt. Pumpkins, mums, kids corn maze, cider donuts. Open daily 10am-6pm mid-Sept. through Oct. 31.

Easy Pickin's Orchard         

46 Bailey Rd.

Enfield, CT  06082

860-763-3276

A unique location Jun.-Nov.  PYO apples, peaches, plums, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, veggies, flowers & pumpkins! Dwarf trees. Wagon rides. Small fruit, vegetables, pumpkins, flowers and large fruit.

Kuras Farms         

1901 Mountain Rd.

West Suffield, CT  06093

860-668-2942

PYO blueberries July 5-Sept. 1. Raspberries July 5-20 & Sept. 1-Oct 1. Retail farm stand, all homegrown. Berries, veggies & specialties July 5-Oct 1. Small fruit, vegetables and pumpkins.

Petersen Farm         

125 Burgess Rd.

South Windsor, CT  06074

860-282-1747

PYO flowers!  Two acres of annuals and perennials to choose from, $7lb.  Vegetables and berries also available at farm stand.  Open daily July through September. Small fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Hydeville Farm           

202 Hydeville Rd.

Stafford, CT  06076

860-684-2335

PYO red raspberries Sept.-Oct.  Open daily 10 am to dusk.  Fresh picked apples available at raspberry stand. Farm on Hydeville Road off Route 19. Small and large fruit.

Johnny Appleseed's Farm 

185 West Rd. (Route 83) & 13 Schoolhouse Rd.

Ellington, CT  06029

860-875-1000

PYO peaches, apples & pumpkins (corn maze).  Fresh produce at our stands at 185 West Road (Route 83) in Ellington and at 244 Hartford Turnpike (Route 30) in Tolland. Large fruit and pumpkins.

Pell Farm         

96 Kibbe Grove Rd.

Somers, CT  06071

860-749-3582

Strawberries in June & early July. Pumpkins in Oct. Christmas trees starting Fri. after Thanksgiving. Small fruit, pumpkins and Christmas trees.

 Route 195 Tolland/Coventry

Tolland, CT 

860-429-8449

Strawberries PYO or already picked.  Bring the whole family!  June 1 through early July.  Pumpkins in October, top quality. Call for picking information 860-429-8449. Small fruit and pumpkins.

Scantic Valley Farm         

327 Ninth District Rd.

Somers, CT  06071

860-749-3286

PYO strawberries in June. Pumpkins & corn maze late Sept.-Oct.  Call for hours. Small fruit and pumpkins.

Winterbrook Farm

116 Beffa Rd.

Stafford Springs, CT  06076

860-684-2124

PYO blueberries. No pesticides, herbicides, synthetic chemicals.  Open Aug.1-Sept.15, 7-7 daily, weather permitting.  Call for conditions.  PYO peaches mid-Aug. through mid-Sept.; call for appointment. Small and large fruit.

Wrights Orchard & Dried Flower Farm         

271 South River Rd.

Tolland, CT  06084

860-872-1665

PYO apples & pumpkins. Also in our stand are peaches, blackberries, mums & veggies. Open daily Aug. 1-Dec. 24. Visit our 19th Century flower barn. Large fruit and pumpkins