Where to pick your own apples and pumpkins

When the air is crisp and fall arrives, it's time to pick apples off the trees and pumpkins from the patch before the frost sets in.

The Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture recommends the following Essex County farms for best pickins'.

Barker's Farm Stand

(apples)

1267 Osgood St.

North Andover

(508) 683-0785

DIRECTIONS: Route 495 to exit 48, Route 125 Ward Hill, go south on 125, 2 miles on left. Or take Route 93N, Exit 41. Follow Route 125N for 10.3 miles; it's the stand on right at top of hill.

HOURS: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brooksby Farm

(apples)

38 Felton St.

Peabody

(978) 531-1631

HOURS: Apple picking daily, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., after Labor Day.

Cider Hill Farm

(apples and pumpkins)

45 Fern Ave.

Amesbury

(978) 388-5525

DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 to Exit 1 in New Hampshire. Go West 2 miles, Route 107 to Route 150. South 2 miles on Route 150, turn left onto Fern Avenue to barn and farm store. Or, take Route 495 to Exit 54. Turn right at bottom, on to Route 150. Go North through Amesbury. Turn right onto Fern Avenue.

HOURS: July through Oct: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days/week.

Clark Farm

(pumpkins)

163 Hobart St.

Danvers

(978) 774-0550

DIRECTIONS: Take Centre Street Exit off Route 1 North. Turn left, go 1/2 mile at blinking lights, then turn left onto Hobart Street. Farm is 1/4 mile on left.

HOURS: Stand open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; `til 5 p.m. for pick-your-own.

Connors Farm

(apples and pumpkins)

30 Valley Road (Route 35)

Danvers

(978) 777-1245

DIRECTIONS: From Route 1 North, take North Street exit, then turn left at only intersection. Also Route 128 to Exit 23N (Route 35). The farm is 5 miles from this junction.

HOURS: Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fay Farm

(apples)

120 Amesbury Line Road

Haverhill

(978) 373-4874

DIRECTIONS: Take Route 495 to Exit 52. Bear right at exit. Follow 2 miles and take right at Whittier Tech H.S. sign. Barn on left.

HOURS: Sept. 15- Oct 21, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Green Meadow Farms

(pumpkins)

650 Asbury St.

South Hamilton

(978) 468-2277

DIRECTIONS: From 128, take Exit 20A to 1A North; go through North Beverly into Wenham, 1.5 miles past Wenham Lake. Take a left after large white church on the left, onto Arbor Street. Go 2 miles to Asbury Street on left. Farm is 1.5 miles on left.

HOURS: Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ingaldsby Farm

(apples and pumpkins)

14 Washington St.

Boxford

(978) 352-2813

DIRECTIONS: 1 mile off Route 133 in West Boxford.

HOURS: Stand open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. In season, apple picking on weekends after Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(apples and pumpkins)

13 Birchmeadow Road

Merrimac

(978) 346-8346

DIRECTIONS: Take Route 495 to Exit 53. Left onto Route 110, Birchmeadow Road will be one mile on the right.

HOURS: In season, apples & pumpkins on weekends only. Free hayrides to apple orchard.

Long Hill Orchards

(apples and pumpkins)

520 Main St., Route 113

West Newbury

(978) 363-2170

DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 57 off I-95. Left off exit; farm is 4 miles on right.

HOURS: Seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., including holidays.

Marini Farm

(pumpkins)

259 Linebrook Road

Ipswich

(978) 356-0430

DIRECTIONS: Take U.S. Route 1 to Linebrook Road, heading East toward Ipswich 1 mile, or Route 1A past center of Ipswich to Linebrook Road.

HOURS: Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. In season, open for pick-your-own tomatoes 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Russell Orchards

(apples)

143 Argilla Road

Ipswich

(978) 356-5366

DIRECTIONS: On the road to Crane Beach-Castle Hill, 3 miles South of Ipswich Center. Off Routes 1A or 133.

HOURS: Open 7 days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during picking season. Call for picking dates.

Smolak Farms

(apples and pumpkins)

315 South Bradford St.

North Andover

(978) 682-6332

DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 to Route 97 Georgetown Exit. Left at Boxford Village sign to first right, Ipswich Road. Go 6 miles and look for signs.

HOURS: Stand open daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pick-your-own.

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