A strong apple crop welcomes fall visitors to Monadnock orchards

After a cold and wet start to the growing season, apple orchards across the Monadnock Region are welcoming visitors for pick-your-own fruit, hayrides and other fall traditions. At Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville, Tim Anderson said difficult conditions early in the year did not prevent the orchard from producing a strong crop. "The growing season for 2026 started out tough, cold and wet into June," Anderson said. "Bloom was light and quick, but we had a good fruit set regardless and it turned into a great apple crop." The size of the apples varies, he said, giving customers options for everything from baking pies to packing school lunches. "Sizing of the apples is about typical, there are definitely some larger fruit that look amazing, but there is a fair share of standard and smaller size as well," Anderson said. "The smaller apples are great school snacks for young kids!" Washburn's, located at 66 Mason Road, has more than 700 apple trees spread across seven acres. Its varieties include McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Royal Gala and Red Delicious, with different apples ripening throughout September and October. Because varieties can be picked out quickly, visitors looking for a particular apple should check the orchard's website or social media pages before traveling. Pick-your-own apples are sold in one-peck and half-bushel bags, which must be purchased at the farm stand. Pre-picked apples are also available. For Anderson, the experience is about more than filling a bag. Washburn's has developed its fall season around giving families an affordable opportunity to spend time outdoors and experience a working farm. "Our model is based on the simple enjoyment of agriculture/apple orchard," he said. "We focus on improving what we have to offer and try to keep costs in check. We strive to maintain an affordable local activity that families can visit to enjoy the simple joys of fall." Free tractor-drawn hayrides carry visitors to the apple orchard on weekends with the purchase of apple-picking bags. "The hayrides to the apple orchard on weekends is free with the purchase of apple picking bags, and kids and adults alike love visiting for the hayride," Anderson said. "It's about 10 minutes round trip and gives them the opportunity to view the scenery and relax." The orchard also operates a five-acre corn maze, a pumpkin field, a children's play area and a farm-animal area. Its corn maze receives a new design each year and is open daily during the orchard's season. Pumpkins are available beginning in mid-September, with wagons provided to help visitors carry them from the field. Food is another part of the orchard experience. Washburn's makes apple-cider doughnuts fresh on weekends and sells other products including pies, apple crisp, muffins, cookies, caramel apples and cider. "Our bakery is always bustling and has a variety of fall flavors, fresh homemade apple pies and warm apple crisp on weekends, cookies and muffins, and even a selection of pre-packaged gluten free items!" Anderson said. "Our frozen apple cider is incredible and everyone loves it! We have original and caramel apple flavored for those with a real sweet tooth. Fresh caramel apples with several toppings to choose from are also a big hit." While visitors primarily experience Washburn's during September and October, preparing for that short public season requires work throughout much of the year. "There is a surprising amount of work and preparation that goes into our two month long season every year," Anderson said. "Growing the apples themselves includes pruning, spraying and IPM, fertilizing, mowing and weed whacking, harvesting, and post harvest management." Integrated pest management, commonly called IPM, uses monitoring and a combination of cultivation, mechanical controls and selected treatments to manage insects and diseases. "Even for our small scale orchard, the apple growing itself requires nearly 1,000 hours of labor annually," Anderson said. "The corn maze must be prepped, planted, drawn and plucked." That year-round commitment is also central to McLeod Orchards in Milford, a family-owned farm that has operated for more than 80 years. Becky McLeod and Kris Mossey said the farm's apple harvest begins with early varieties in late summer and changes throughout the fall. The progression allows visitors to return during different parts of the season and find new flavors. "We start the season with an early apple called the Paula Red, then in September we have McIntosh, Cortlands, Gala and Fuji and finally in October we move onto our later varieties like Macoun, Mutsu and Roxbury Russets," McLeod and Mossey said. The varieties also serve different purposes. McIntosh and Cortland apples are traditional New England favorites that can be eaten fresh or used in cooking. Macouns are known for their crisp texture, while Mutsu apples are often valued for baking and storage. The Roxbury Russet is an antique variety with a sweet, dry flavor. Even familiar varieties, McLeod and Mossey said, can offer a different experience when eaten immediately after being picked. "While people are familiar with many of these varieties, what they may not have experienced is the flavor and texture of an apple picked right from the tree," they said. "We have some antique Mac trees that are close to 100 years old and the taste is like no other." McLeod Orchards, located at 735 North River Road, offers pick-your-own apples and operates a seasonal farm stand. Along with picked apples, the stand carries vegetables, pumpkins, cider, honey, maple syrup, jams and other local products. The orchard promotes a relaxed, traditional picking experience, but McLeod and Mossey said creating that experience requires preparation during every part of the year. "Growing apples is our way of life and we want customers to experience an authentic NH family farm," they said. "We work all year long preparing, planning, pruning, planting and picking, so that we are ready for our customers to enjoy this farm during harvest season." Their work reflects the role family farms continue to play in New Hampshire, both as food producers and as places where visitors can connect with agriculture. "A lot of work and a lot of love goes into everything we do, and we do all of it because we believe in the importance of agriculture in NH," McLeod and Mossey said.