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New Hampshire
Polishes Up Crop of Antique Apples
According to the University of New Hampshire, the 2,700 farms in New
Hampshire managing over 460,000 acres contribute nearly $300 million to the
state's economy. Apples are a key component. The 2100 acres of apple
orchards in the state produced 738,000 bushels of apples in 2004, valued at
$8.7 million. [Source: USDA].
There's even an official New Hampshire Scenic Byways for orchards: the 10-
mile Apple Way that winds through Londonderry and is sprinkled with old
schoolhouses, antique homesteads, and magnificent orchards.
But visitors will find pick-your-own apples, fresh-pressed cider and apple
festivals all over the state. VisitNH.gov offers information for visitors and
www.agriculture.NH.gov lists apple orchards and farmstands showcasing
the bounty of the harvest.
Several orchards focus on antique or 'antique' apple varieties that are not
found in the average supermarket. Among these are:
Poverty Lane Orchards, Lebanon, NH
Steve Wood and his wife, Louisa Spencer grow and sell antique apples with
names like Ashmead’s Kernel, Pomme Grise, Hudson’s Golden Gem and
Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple, Esopus Spitzenberg was grown at
Monticello when the variety was quite new. It originated in the mid-1700s.
Pick-Your-Own starts in early September with tart, rock-hard McIntosh and
Cortland on the trees. Sweet cider pressing begins a week or two into
September, when the apples sugar up enough. A week into October, an
amazing number of different varieties, from familiar to very rare, will be
ready for the orchard's antique apple tastings. On weekends with good
weather the orchard can tote people into the further fields by wagon. (Some
people like just to sit on the wagon and travel back and forth -- no charge.)
There are picnic tables, fresh air, views of the Connecticut River valley and
plenty of space to run around with a tall fence around the whole place to
keep kids and friendly dogs in. Poverty Lane also grows what they call
“certain nasty-tasting apples, on purpose, that are vintage cider varieties to
be pressed and fermented into traditional, wine-like Farnum Hill Ciders.”
Call 603-448-1511
Applecrest Farm, Hampton Falls, NH
Oldest and largest apple orchard in New Hampshire. Year-round family
owned orchards with 300 acres. First apple tree was planted in 1913.
Operated by the Wagner family since 1954, it now has over 20,000 apple trees
producing 100,000 bushels of forty different varieties: Gravenstein, Paula
Red, McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Mutsu, Ida Red, Red Delicious,
Golden Delicious, Melrose, Northern Spy, Rome Beauty, Baldwin and in
limited quantities: Russet, Rhode Island Greening, Wageners, Pick your own
and already picked available at farmstands. Free festival on fall weekends
with live music and food. Applecrest Farm, Route 88. Hampton Falls. Call
603-926-3721
Gould Hill Orchards, Contoocook, NH
A 200 year-old family-owned and operated farm, we grow over 85 varieties
of apples (Ashmead Kernel, August Sweet, Blue Pearmain, Cox Orange
Pippin, Granite Beauty, Gravenstein, Hubbardston Nonesuch, Ozark Gold,
Pomme Grise, Porter, Rhode Island Greening, Sheepnose, Snow, Winesap) on
nearly 100 acres of prime hilltop farm land affords both prime apple growing
land and spectacular views, stretching 75 miles from south-central
New Hampshire to the White Mountains. Also produce their own fresh sweet
cider. Their Little Nature Museum in the 220-year-old historic barn offers
collections of fossils, rocks, minerals, shells; mounted birds, insects, wildlife;
interpretive and changing exhibits. Guided nature trail walks in the orchards,
forests, fields, and streams. Call 603-46-3811
DeMerritt Hill Farm, Lee, NH
25 varieties of apples. Mule-drawn apple-picking hayrides into the orchard.
Supplies apples to cider mill that sells cider at Barker Farm Stand, Route 33,
Stratham. Call 603-868-7587
Apple Hill Farm, Concord, NH
24 varieties of uncommon, common and new varieties of NH apples. Hard
and sweet cider. Picking schedule: August = Jersey Mac, Paula Red, Ginger
Gold, Gravenstein. September = McIntosh, Cortland, Honey Crisp, Macoun,
Pomme Grise, Jonathon, Gala. October = Empire, Hampshire, Golden
Delicious, Northern Spy, Crispin, Fuji, Baldwin, Russett, Hudsons Golden
Gem, Calville deBlanc, Tomkins County King, Esopus Spitzenburg, Lady
Apples. Call 603-224-8862
In addition:
The colonial-era Jackson House (c. 1664) in Portsmouth at 76 Northwest
Street, maintains a small, 2-acre orchard of 8 different varieties of apples
popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. A member of Historic New England
(formerly Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) the house
focuses on its apples on the September 10th this year with “Jackson Hill
Cider Day” from noon to 4pm. Visitors will enjoy cider, aged cheddar cheese,
warm slices of apple pie baked on the premises and a demonstration of hand-
operated cider press. The post-medieval style Jackson House is also open for
guided tours. Admission: $6 for adults and $3 for children. Historic New
England/SPNEA members, free. www.historicnewengland.org. 76 Northwest
Street, Portsmouth. Call 603-436-3205
See also Scott Farm's Heirloom Apples in Vermont
Polishes Up Crop of Antique Apples
According to the University of New Hampshire, the 2,700 farms in New
Hampshire managing over 460,000 acres contribute nearly $300 million to the
state's economy. Apples are a key component. The 2100 acres of apple
orchards in the state produced 738,000 bushels of apples in 2004, valued at
$8.7 million. [Source: USDA].
There's even an official New Hampshire Scenic Byways for orchards: the 10-
mile Apple Way that winds through Londonderry and is sprinkled with old
schoolhouses, antique homesteads, and magnificent orchards.
But visitors will find pick-your-own apples, fresh-pressed cider and apple
festivals all over the state. VisitNH.gov offers information for visitors and
www.agriculture.NH.gov lists apple orchards and farmstands showcasing
the bounty of the harvest.
Several orchards focus on antique or 'antique' apple varieties that are not
found in the average supermarket. Among these are:
Poverty Lane Orchards, Lebanon, NH
Steve Wood and his wife, Louisa Spencer grow and sell antique apples with
names like Ashmead’s Kernel, Pomme Grise, Hudson’s Golden Gem and
Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple, Esopus Spitzenberg was grown at
Monticello when the variety was quite new. It originated in the mid-1700s.
Pick-Your-Own starts in early September with tart, rock-hard McIntosh and
Cortland on the trees. Sweet cider pressing begins a week or two into
September, when the apples sugar up enough. A week into October, an
amazing number of different varieties, from familiar to very rare, will be
ready for the orchard's antique apple tastings. On weekends with good
weather the orchard can tote people into the further fields by wagon. (Some
people like just to sit on the wagon and travel back and forth -- no charge.)
There are picnic tables, fresh air, views of the Connecticut River valley and
plenty of space to run around with a tall fence around the whole place to
keep kids and friendly dogs in. Poverty Lane also grows what they call
“certain nasty-tasting apples, on purpose, that are vintage cider varieties to
be pressed and fermented into traditional, wine-like Farnum Hill Ciders.”
Call 603-448-1511
Applecrest Farm, Hampton Falls, NH
Oldest and largest apple orchard in New Hampshire. Year-round family
owned orchards with 300 acres. First apple tree was planted in 1913.
Operated by the Wagner family since 1954, it now has over 20,000 apple trees
producing 100,000 bushels of forty different varieties: Gravenstein, Paula
Red, McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Empire, Mutsu, Ida Red, Red Delicious,
Golden Delicious, Melrose, Northern Spy, Rome Beauty, Baldwin and in
limited quantities: Russet, Rhode Island Greening, Wageners, Pick your own
and already picked available at farmstands. Free festival on fall weekends
with live music and food. Applecrest Farm, Route 88. Hampton Falls. Call
603-926-3721
Gould Hill Orchards, Contoocook, NH
A 200 year-old family-owned and operated farm, we grow over 85 varieties
of apples (Ashmead Kernel, August Sweet, Blue Pearmain, Cox Orange
Pippin, Granite Beauty, Gravenstein, Hubbardston Nonesuch, Ozark Gold,
Pomme Grise, Porter, Rhode Island Greening, Sheepnose, Snow, Winesap) on
nearly 100 acres of prime hilltop farm land affords both prime apple growing
land and spectacular views, stretching 75 miles from south-central
New Hampshire to the White Mountains. Also produce their own fresh sweet
cider. Their Little Nature Museum in the 220-year-old historic barn offers
collections of fossils, rocks, minerals, shells; mounted birds, insects, wildlife;
interpretive and changing exhibits. Guided nature trail walks in the orchards,
forests, fields, and streams. Call 603-46-3811
DeMerritt Hill Farm, Lee, NH
25 varieties of apples. Mule-drawn apple-picking hayrides into the orchard.
Supplies apples to cider mill that sells cider at Barker Farm Stand, Route 33,
Stratham. Call 603-868-7587
Apple Hill Farm, Concord, NH
24 varieties of uncommon, common and new varieties of NH apples. Hard
and sweet cider. Picking schedule: August = Jersey Mac, Paula Red, Ginger
Gold, Gravenstein. September = McIntosh, Cortland, Honey Crisp, Macoun,
Pomme Grise, Jonathon, Gala. October = Empire, Hampshire, Golden
Delicious, Northern Spy, Crispin, Fuji, Baldwin, Russett, Hudsons Golden
Gem, Calville deBlanc, Tomkins County King, Esopus Spitzenburg, Lady
Apples. Call 603-224-8862
In addition:
The colonial-era Jackson House (c. 1664) in Portsmouth at 76 Northwest
Street, maintains a small, 2-acre orchard of 8 different varieties of apples
popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. A member of Historic New England
(formerly Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities) the house
focuses on its apples on the September 10th this year with “Jackson Hill
Cider Day” from noon to 4pm. Visitors will enjoy cider, aged cheddar cheese,
warm slices of apple pie baked on the premises and a demonstration of hand-
operated cider press. The post-medieval style Jackson House is also open for
guided tours. Admission: $6 for adults and $3 for children. Historic New
England/SPNEA members, free. www.historicnewengland.org. 76 Northwest
Street, Portsmouth. Call 603-436-3205
See also Scott Farm's Heirloom Apples in Vermont
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