Massachusetts apple orchards are preparing for the fall harvest, with growers reporting a strong crop despite earlier weather concerns, according to agricultural specialists.
Crop Conditions and Outlook for 2026
An early spring freeze caused initial anxiety among orchard owners across the region. However, Jon Clements, Extension Tree Fruit Specialist at the University of Massachusetts, stated that the apple crop looks pretty outstanding for most growers. While it may not break records as a bumper year, Clements noted that the overall bounty will be more than sufficient for visitors.
Exploring Heirloom and Antique Varieties
For visitors looking beyond standard supermarket offerings, several farms specialize in historic and unusual apples. At Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, chief operating officer Justin Pelletier oversees an orchard where about 60 of the 80 apple varieties grown are considered heirloom. Pelletier leads weekly picking tours during the season to showcase antique trees.
According to Pelletier, these heirloom varieties often lack the uniform red color and counter appeal of commercially grown fruit, but they offer superior flavor. Pickers visiting Nashoba’s antique trees can find baking-friendly options such as Rhode Island Greenings, Roxbury Russets, and pink-fleshed Almatas.
Similarly, small-scale farmer Nathan Aldrich operates Owl Rock Farm in Harvard, where he has revitalized an orchard previously used for commercial juice production. Through a method called top-working, Aldrich grafts unusual varieties onto older McIntosh and Cortland trees. The 12-acre farm now features 54 unique apple varieties.
New Innovations and Upcoming Varieties
Commercial apple breeding programs continue to introduce new textures and flavor profiles to the market following the widespread popularity of the Honeycrisp. David Bedford, a researcher who helped breed the Honeycrisp at the University of Minnesota, reported that his team is working on a project called Superior Fruit Innovations to license new apples directly to orchards, with trees like “Big Flirt” and “Super Snap” slated for planting.
At Shelburne Farm in Stow, owner Ted Painter has expanded his orchard to include both deep heirloom selections and new cultivars. The farm’s current season features the first fruiting of SnapDragon, a Cornell University-bred offshoot of the Honeycrisp described by Painter as having a balanced sweet-tart profile and a distinct crunch. Orchard visitors can also find CrimsonCrisp, another crunchy variety with a lower sugar content, according to farm reports.
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