Pick-Your-Own Apples Near Swampscott

By LIZ TAURASI (Patch Staff)

Apple picking season is here and after last year’s not so great apple crop for many farmers in New England, this year’s apple picking crop is looking to be one of the best.

This season is off to an early start and is expected to be most active through late October.

There are more than two dozen apple varieties available this season. Want to know when to find your favorite? Check out the breakdown here >>>

So where do you to go to pick your own apples?

Below is a list of some of our picks nearby. In addition to pick-your-own, most orchards sell fresh-picked apples at a farmstand and also have other activities. Take a look:

Russell Orchard and Winery

• Where: 143 Argilla Road, Ipswich
• When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through October.
• Details: There’s wine tasting, animals to visit, a store to shop and, of course, apples to pick. There are 10 varieties grown at the orchard, including McIntosh, Gala, Gingergold, Honeycrisp and Cortland among others.

Barker’s Farmstand

• Where: 1267 Osgood St. (Rte. 125), North Andover
• When: Picking, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Farm stand, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Details: Pick your own apples, including Honeycrisp, McCoun. Empire, Cortland and McIntosh

Smolak Farm

• Where: 315 South Bradford St., North Andover
• When: Picking, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Farm stand, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Details: Pick-your-own apples include Cortland, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Imperial Red, Red Delicious, Northern Spy, Gravensteins, McIntosh and Mutsu. Additional activities include wee wagons, duck races, games, food, bouncy house, face-painting, batting cage, hay pyramid animals, etc. There are also hayrides, a playground and animals.

Cider Hill Farm

• Where: 45 Fern Ave., Amesbury
• When: Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Details: Pick-your-own McIntosh, Gala and Cortland apples plus free hayrides to the orchards from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Search for more pick-your-own apple locations in Massachusetts at massnrc.org.