| Where can I taste that
apple?
While we pride ourselves with our variety
descriptions, there’s nothing like the real thing. No words
can compare to the taste. Frequently I’m asked, “Where
can I taste a ….?” Here are a few suggestions.
The best place to taste apples in Maine is the
Great Maine Apple Day,
Sunday, October 21, 2012 in Unity.
Maine:
Visit the orchards near you. Call the Maine Dept of Ag at (207)287-3491,
or visit them on-line at getrealmaine.com
for a complete list of the orchards in Maine. Many have unusual
varieties. Even one or two rare finds can be worth the trip. Below
are a few orchards with wonderful collections. I’m sure there
are others. Don’t be frustrated if you call and reach no one.
Just go. By September most of them are open 6 or 7 days a week.
• Ricker Hill Orchards, Turner, Androscoggin
County (207)225-5552, www.rickerhill.com.
Organic apples and more, mostly modern varieties.
• Sweetser’s Apple Barrel and Orchards,
Cumberland Center, Cumberland County (207)829-3074, www.maineapple.com.
A great collection of 39 old and new varieties. Their pride and
joy is an ancient Rolfe tree. Don’t miss it.
• Bailey’s Orchard, Whitefield, Lincoln
County (207)549-7680, One of the largest collections of old varieties
in the state. Pears, plums and crabapples, too.
• Lakeside Orchards, Manchester, Kennebec
County (207)622-2479, www.lakesideorchards.com.
Organic apples and a good collection of mostly new varieties.
• Maine-ly Apples, Dixmont, Penobscot County
(207)234-2043, www.mainelyapples.com. A growing collection of old
and new varieties.
• Rollins Orchard, Garland, Penobscot County
(207)924-3504, A very good collection of over 20 unusual old varieties.
Plums and pears, too.
• Sandy River Orchard, Mercer, Somerset County
(207) 587-2563, sandyriverapples.com.
Established in 1852 by the Fenton family. A huge collection of over
140 varieties, many old and unusual.
• The Apple Farm, Fairfield, Somerset County
(207)453-7656, A great collection of unusual old and new varieties.
• Cayford Orchards, Skowhegan, Somerset County
(207)474-5200, 57 varieties of tree fruit on a sixth-generation
family farm.
• Sewall’s Orchard, Lincolnville, Waldo
County (207)763-3956, www.sewallsorchard.com.
Organic apples including some of the first disease-resistant releases.
• Dole’s Orchard, Limington, York County
(207)793-4409, www.dolesorchard.com.
Mix of old and new. They have two un-named varieties crossed by
the late Maine plant breeder, Russell Bailey. Both are extremely
rare, if not unique.
Other New England States:
I know a few orchards with good collections outside of Maine. If
you know of any we should list, please let us know. An internet
search could direct you to an orchard nearby.
• Nashoba Valley Winery, Bolton, MA. (978)779-5521,
www.nashobawinery.com.
A large collection of old and new varieties.
• Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA
(508)869-6111, www.towerhillbg.org.
The best collection of historic varieties in New England. At last
count, 119 all labeled in an arboretum-type setting. A great place
to study the fruit. Usually for sale at a special event over Columbus
Day weekend. Call ahead.
• Hutchins Farm, Concord, MA (978)369-2480.
Nice collection of old and mostly newer varieties.
• Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA
(508)347-3362, www.osv.org.
Apple days: September 29-30, 2012.
• Gould Hill Orchard, Contoocook, NH (603)746-3811,
www.gouldhill.com.
Large collection of new and old varieties.
• Poverty Lane Orchards,
Lebanon, NH (603)448-1511, www.povertylaneorchards.com.
Likely the best collection of unusual dessert apples in New England.
One of the largest collection of cider apples in the U.S. They have
most the cider varieties we sell.
• Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole, NH (603)756-9090,
www.alysonsorchard.com.
Large collection of new and old varieties.
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