Apples are serious business in Connecticut. The state has its own Apple Marketing Board which is very active in promoting Connecticut orchards and apple picking farms to folks like us.

It also selects and sends two finalists to the New England Best Two-Crusted Apple Pie Contest each fall.

Here’s a selection of apple growers in Connecticut where you can “pick your own” …

Bishops Orchards – Guilford & Northford

The Bishop Family Orchards offer Apple Picking, and a Pumpkin Patch and Hay Maze during the fall season. At the weekends donuts, popcorn, hotdogs, and ice cream are available to make sure apple picking hunger pains are kept at bay.

Apple Picking is open 10-5, 7 days a week until late October at Guilford and weekends only at Northford. The Guilford orchards are at 1355 Boston post Road, US Route 1, exit 57 off I-95. Northford locations is 1920 Middletown Ave, Route 17, 3 Miles north of Junction Route 22.

Ellesworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm – Sharon

Set in the rolling hills and open pastures of rural Sharon and Kent townships, in addition to apple picking, Ellesworth Farm also has hay rides available at the weekend, and a hay maze. Their apple cider is pressed on-site.

The Orchard is open 10:00am – 6:00pm seven days a week. Located on Route 4 in Sharon, Connecticut, take Route 4 West for 3 miles from Cornwall Bridge (junction of Routes 7 & 4), or take Route 4 East approximately 5 miles from Sharon Memorial Clock Tower (junction of Routes 343, 41 & 4).

Lyman Orchards - Middlefield

With 28 varieties of apples and a corn maze that’ll keep you “lost for days (if you don’t want to be found), Lyman Orchards welcomes apple pickers through late October. Lyman have been growing fruit in the Connecticut River valley for over a century.

Call their 24-hour hotline at 24-hour hotline at 860-349-6015 for picking times and conditions. Lyman Orchards is located at the junctions of Rte. 147 and Rte. 157 in Middlefield.

Maple Lane Farms – Preston

Maple Lane Farms use dwarf variety trees so apple picking is safe and easy for even the smaller ones. Scenic hay rides around the farm are offered on Saturday and Sunday.

The farm has a 24-hour information line at 860-877-8855. Apple picking is from Thursday – Sunday 10-4:00pm through end of October. Maple Lane Farms is located at 57 N.W. Corner Road Preston, CT 06365. From Boston take Mass Pike West to Exit 10 onto Interstate 395S, Exit 85 onto Rte.164s, 5 miles to light, first left after light onto NW Corner Rd.

Silverman’s Farm - Easton

Silverman’s Farm is not just a typical “Pick-Your-Own” fruit farm. In the fall its Pumpkin Patch is all “dressed up” for its traditional Octoberfest. Guess the weight of your pumpkin within 2 oz either way and its free! You can also visit their Animal Farm.

Silverman’s Farm is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm seven days a week except on holidays. The farm is easy to find in the southern Connecticut town of Easton, about 2 1/2 miles north of the Merrit Parkway (exit 46). They’re at 451 Sport Hill Road (Rt. 59), just past the intersection with Center Road.

In my first article I gave you some tips on picking and keeping apples. You can view that article by clicking here. But today let’s quickly cover the topic of the nutritional value of apples…

Why eat apples?

>No artificial Coloring.
>Contains less than 1 gram of fat.
>Has almost no sodium.
>High in complex Carbohydrates.
>Contains Cellulose.
>Contains the Soluble fiber pectin.
>Supplies Vitamin C.
>Supplies Potassium.
>Contains the trace mineral Boron.
>Has only 18 calories.
>Has other vital nutrients, including calcium, iron, carotenoids such as Vitamin A, thiamin, magnesium and phosphonus.

Facts courtesy of The Connecticut Apple Marketing Board – http://www.hort.uconn.edu/apples/index.html

Look for more apple picking opportunities in other New England states in more articles later this week. I’ll also be sharing some great apple recipes with you so be sure to come back and visit in a few days. Better still so you don’t miss anything get on my mailing list by clicking here and you’ll also get a bunch of FREE reports.

Many orchards in Connecticut are located near fall foliage scenic drives which is a great combination this time of year. To discover more about fall foliage scenic drives in Connecticut click here.

Check out these other posts for other orchards in the region:

Maine orchards
Massachusetts orchards
New Hampshire orchards
Rhode Island orchards
Vermont orchards

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director,
Vacations Guide to New England