There was one clear winner in Middlesex County.
By Kristi Palma
September 17, 2021
A Middlesex County family farm founded in 1926 is the best apple orchard in Massachusetts, according to Boston.com readers.
- When we asked readers their favorite place to pick apples in the state, Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow received the most votes out of 45 farms named by more than 200 readers. The farm, voted the best in New England by readers last year, offers nearly 200 acres of orchards, as well as mazes, hayrides, and farm animals.
“Great apple variety, fun atmosphere for the family and of course killer apple cider donuts,” wrote Lia Osborne from Newton about Honey Pot Hill Orchards. “Brings back so many memories growing up and I hope to make it back up there soon for apple picking.
Best places to pick apples in Massachusetts, according to readers
- Apex Orchards in Shelburne
- Barker’s Farm in North Andover
- Bartlett’s Orchard in Richmond (2)
- Belkin Family Lookout Farm in Natick (6)
- Berlin Orchards in Berlin (7)
- Big Apple Farm in Wrentham (7)
- Bolton Spring Farms in Bolton (8)
- Brookfield Orchards in North Brookfield (7)
- Brooksby Farm in Peabody (3)
- Carlson Orchards in Harvard (11)
- Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury (14)
- C.N. Smith Farm in East Bridgewater (4)
- Connemara House Farm in Topsfield
- Connors Farm in Danvers (8)
- Doe Orchards in Harvard (6)
- Dowse Orchards in Sherborn
- Echo Hill Orchards & Winery in Monson
- Fairmount Fruit Farm in Franklin
- Farmer Dave’s in Dracut
- Fern Valley Farms in Wilbraham
- Hilltop Orchards in Richmond
- Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg
- Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow (31)
- Ingaldsby Farm in Boxford
- Jaeschke Orchards in Adams
- Keith’s Farm in Acushnet
- Lanni Orchards in Lunenburg
- Mann Orchards in Methuen
- Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton (2)
- Old Frog Pond Farm in Harvard
- Outlook Farm Barn & Eatery in Westhampton
- Outpost Farm in Holliston
- Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro (14)
- Phoenix Fruit Farm in Belchertown
- Quonquont Farm in Whately
- Red Apple Farm in Phillipston (6)
- Russell Orchards in Ipswich (10)
- Shelburne Farm in Stow (5)
- Sholan Farms in Leominster (2)
- Smolak Farm in North Andover (8)
- Stowe Farm in Millbury (3)
- Tangerini’s Farm in Millis
- Tougas Family Farm in Northborough (18)
- Westward Orchards in Harvard (2)
- Windy Hill Farm in Great Barrington
What readers are saying:
“Best apples in America,” wrote @amphythegreat about Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury.
“Great selection, fun extras, great apple cider donuts, cute animals, and our family has been going there for 17 years,” wrote @one.trick.peony about Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow. “Parlee Farm is a close second.”
“It is a lovely walk to the orchard, the apples are plentiful, and the donuts are delicious,” wrote a reader about Russell Orchards in Ipswich.
A few favorite farms received national recognition this year. Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury was named the No. 1 apple picking spot in the U.S. by Yelp and Tougas Family Farm in Northborough was named one of the 10 best apple orchards in America by USA Today readers.
