As in past years, we are pleased to offer a six-week fall fruit share in partnership with Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton, Mass. to all Stearns Farm CSA members. Beginning the week of Sept. 12, 2017, fruit share participants will receive a 1/2 peck of fresh picked apples (or a package equivalent in value of other fruit, based on availability) each week for six consecutive weeks.
Share contents will vary by week over the season but are primarily apples; other fruit varieties may include Concord grapes, Italian plums, Bartlett pears and Bosc pears. Shares may include the following apple varieties: Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Macintosh, Cortland, Red Cort, Empire, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Spencer, Rhode Island Greening, Macoun, Kendall, SpiGold, Northern Spy, Sun Crisp, Red Delicious, Fuji, or Braeburn. Autumn Hills provides information about the varieties offered, along with tips for using the fruit, on their online CSA page .
A fruit share costs $60.00. Participants will pick up a bag of fruit weekly. Unfortunately, the orchard cannot accommodate changes in pick-up schedules. If you change the day of your farm pickup, you will be able to pick up that week’s fruit the following week.
Fruit shares must be purchased by Sept. 10, 2017, and you must be a Stearns Farm CSA member to enroll. If you have not already purchased a Stearns Farm membership for 2017, please do so when placing your order. All orders must be placed online via the Stearns Farm online store and paid for using a credit card.
To enroll:
- Go to https://stearnsfarmcsa.org/store/
- If you are not a Stearns Farm member, add a membership to your cart ($10).
- From the store page, click the “Select Options” button for the 2017 Fruit Share
- Fill out the form and check out. Once you submit your order, you will be redirected to PayPal, where you may use your PayPal account or enter a credit card number.
Autumn Hills Orchard is located in historic Groton, Mass. about 35 miles northwest of Framingham. The farm produces over 25 varieties of apples, as well as peaches, pears, plums, grapes and raspberries. For many years, Autumn Hills has enjoyed partnering with Stearns Farm and other local CSAs to provide weekly shares in September/October.
The orchard employs Integrated Pest Management techniques to grow high quality fruit for pick your own visitors, wholesale customers and CSA subscribers. The farm is open in September and October for “pick your own.” CSA customers who visit during that time will receive a special welcome and tour.
