Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards in Southern New Hampshire

Few summer and fall outings in New Hampshire are as simple or as satisfying as picking your own fruit. You drive a short way out of town, grab a basket, wander a field or orchard, and leave with berries or apples that taste better than anything in a supermarket. Southern New Hampshire is especially good for it, with family farms scattered around Concord and the surrounding towns, many within half an hour of the highway. This pick your own NH guide explains what ripens when, how to plan a good picking day, and a handful of farms and orchards from our directory to start with.

What ripens when

Every farm and every year is a little different, and weather can push a season earlier or later by a week or more. As a rough guide, one long-running Concord pick-your-own farm publishes this approximate schedule:

• Strawberries: mid-June to early July
• Blueberries: early July to early September
• Raspberries: mid-July to early August
• Black currants: late July to early August
• Apples: late August to mid-October

That means late July is a sweet spot for berries, especially blueberries, while apple season builds through late summer and peaks in early fall. Pumpkins typically follow in the fall at farms that grow them.

The golden rule: always check a farm's website or social media on the morning you plan to go. Picking fields close when they are picked out or ripening, and farms post updates frequently.

How to plan a good picking day

Go early. Mornings are cooler, fields are fuller, and you beat the crowds. Berry picking in midsummer heat is hard work for small children.

Bring the right gear. Sun hats, sunscreen, water and closed-toe shoes are essentials. Some farms supply containers; others welcome your own. Check first.

Know the rules. Each farm sets its own policies on pricing, pets, ladders and sampling. Ask at the stand when you arrive.

Pick gently. For berries, roll ripe fruit off with your thumb instead of pulling. For apples, lift and twist rather than yanking, so you do not damage next year's buds.

Plan for the farm stand. Many picking farms also sell baked goods, cider, honey and vegetables. Leave room in the budget, and in the car.

Store fruit properly. Refrigerate berries unwashed and rinse just before eating. Keep apples cool, and sort out any bruised ones to use first.

Farms and orchards to know

Apple Hill Farm, Concord

Apple Hill Farm in Concord established its "Pick 'em Yourself" operation for small fruits and apples in 1995. It is a useful first stop because the season runs long, from strawberries in June through apples into October. The farm also built a large farm stand with a bakery where pies and jellies are made from scratch, and the stand sells the farm's fruit and vegetables, homemade cider, jams, baked goods and New Hampshire-made products.

The farm's stated philosophy is that people have become too far removed from where their food comes from, and it encourages visitors to ask questions about how its crops are grown. That makes it a good choice for families who want kids to learn as they pick.

Carter Hill Orchard, Concord

Also in Concord, Carter Hill Orchard is a family business that grows a wide variety of apples, along with peaches, plums, blueberries and pumpkins. Apple cider and maple syrup are made on site, and its country store sells farm-grown vegetables. The bakery offers pies, sweet breads, cookies, cider donuts and whoopie pies.

Carter Hill's pick-your-own season centers on apples in late summer and fall. In midsummer, it is worth checking whether berries or other fruit are available, and the store is a good stop for a summer pie either way.

Stark Farm Organic Blueberries, Dunbarton

For a blueberry-focused outing, Stark Farm Organic Blueberries in Dunbarton grows blueberries the farm describes as never sprayed. The property has deep local roots: it is the Archibald Stark Jr. House, on land granted to Archibald Stark Jr. in 1752, and the house was built in 1770. The farm also keeps an apiary and sells honey.

Blueberry seasons are short and weather-driven, and the farm opens the field on set days as berries ripen, so check its site before driving out. Dunbarton itself is a quiet rural town in Merrimack County, a pleasant drive from Concord.

Appleview Orchard, Pittsfield

Appleview Orchard in Pittsfield describes itself as a classic, kid-friendly apple orchard a few minutes off the highway. Beyond the trees, the orchard offers ice cream, farm animals, a playground and sandbox, picnic areas and a country gift shop. In season it adds hay rides, fresh-pressed cider and homemade baked goods.

It works well as a half-day family outing: pick apples, have a picnic, then finish with ice cream. Check opening days before you go, since the orchard is seasonal.

McLeod Orchards, Milford

McLeod Orchards describes itself as a family farm for over 80 years. It offers pick-your-own apples and a farm stand, and typically opens for apple picking in late August. The farm also runs a harvest subscription (a community-supported agriculture share). It is a good option for families in the Nashua and Milford area.

Making a day of it

A picking trip pairs well with other Merrimack Valley stops. Concord's downtown is a short drive from both Concord orchards, and you can combine fruit picking with a visit to the State House area or a downtown lunch. Dunbarton and Pittsfield are rural and quiet, ideal for a scenic drive and a picnic.

A berry morning near Concord: Blueberries at Apple Hill Farm or Stark Farm, a farm-stand pie, then lunch downtown.

An orchard afternoon: Apples and ice cream at Appleview Orchard in Pittsfield, followed by a country drive home.

What to do with your harvest

Picking is the easy part; the harder part is using everything before it spoils. A few ideas that work every summer and fall:

• Freeze berries flat. Spread dry blueberries or raspberries on a tray, freeze them, then bag them. They stay loose and are easy to scoop into pancakes, muffins or smoothies all winter.
• Bake right away. A pie, crisp or cobbler is the classic first-night dessert, and it uses up the softest fruit.
• Make a quick jam. Small-batch refrigerator jam takes little equipment and is a fun project with kids.
• Match apples to the job. Ask at the farm stand which varieties are best for eating fresh, baking or sauce. Growers know their trees and are usually happy to advise.
• Share the haul. Neighbors, coworkers and grandparents rarely turn down a bag of just-picked fruit.

Picking with kids

Children are often the best pickers, and the most enthusiastic eaters. Keep the outing short for little ones, give each child their own small container, and set a simple rule for sampling. Many farms also have animals, playgrounds or wagon rides, which can be a welcome break.

Frequently asked questions

When is blueberry picking in New Hampshire?

Roughly early July to early September, depending on the farm and the weather. Check the farm's updates before you go.

When does apple picking start in southern New Hampshire?

Usually in late August, running into October at many orchards.

Do I need to bring my own containers?

It depends on the farm. Some provide them; others allow your own. Check ahead.

Are pick-your-own farms good for kids?

Yes. Many add animals, playgrounds and hay rides. Go early to avoid the heat.

Sources

• Apple Hill Farm official site (PYO since 1995, approximate picking schedule, farm stand, bakery): https://www.applehillfarmnh.com/
• Carter Hill Orchard official site (fruits grown, cider and maple syrup, bakery, family business): https://www.carterhillapples.com/
• Stark Farm Organic Blueberries official site (never sprayed, Archibald Stark Jr. House, 1752 grant, 1770 house, honey): https://starkfarmblueberries.com
• Appleview Orchard official site (Pittsfield, amenities, seasonal offerings): https://www.applevieworchard.com/
• McLeod Orchards official site (family farm 80+ years, Milford, PYO, CSA): https://www.mcleodorchards.com
• Dunbarton, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbarton,_New_Hampshire