With more than 100 commercial apple farms throughout the state, Massachusetts is a hub of apple picking. The apple season starts in late August, running into mid-November. Autumn Hills Orchard is one such farm in Groton, only a 20 minute commute from Westford. The orchard was a great experience with more than 25 varieties of apples and beautiful fall foliage.
When we arrived at the orchard, we drove up a hill to the parking lot, which had plenty of space. There was a farm stand with a map of the orchard and different sizes of bags to choose from, ranging from pecks to bushels. We were charged by the weight of the apples picked, and it is about $2.50 per pound, which was fair. The orchard spans a few hills, which we navigated by walking through a trail. It was an open dirt path with some twists. The trail was on a mildly steep incline, but the walk was pleasant and the view on top of the hill was beautiful. The orchard had eight rows with a different apple sort. Each row had a sign that specified the type of apple growing. The trees were in bloom and the apples were very appealing and easy to pick from the trees.
Many of the apples had some damage to them, so I had to be more selective. Even so, I picked ten pounds of apples.
With my family, I gathered Spencer, Mutsu, Golden delicious, Cortland, and Nova spy apples. Some of my favorite apples were Golden Delicious and Nova Spy as the two each had a rich, sweet taste.
The orchard was not crowded and the staff were very friendly, helping us get to know the place and pointing us in the right direction. They also showed us a map of the orchard with the specific fruits labeled. The orchard also specializes in berries, peaches, pears, and pumpkins.
In addition to the apple picking, the orchard was a wonderful place to connect with nature, with great views of the fall colors from the hills. From the center ridge hilltop, one has a spectacular view of the hills and mountains in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, including Wachusett to the west, and Monadnock and Watatic to the north. A drive through Chicopee Row is a perfect way end your visit to the orchard.
My experience was amazing here; the fruit tasted amazing and the staff were very kind to us. I can’t wait to come back next season to pick berries.
