Apples for the Picking at RI’s Favorite Farms by Julia Romano
During the fall months, apple picking has been a favorite pastime of my family and is an event that we have enjoyed since our teenagers were toddlers. Along with picking apples and using them to make pies, we never left the farms without letting the tots choose the best pumpkins in the patches. My kids hold these memories dear, as they are now older, and still love to make a day out of visiting RI’s farms every year in October. There is no doubt that they will continue this tradition when they have children of their own.
Appleland Orchard
135 Smith Avenue, Greenville 401-949-3690 www.applelandorchardri.com With a name like Appleland, it is no surprise that this orchard carries just about every known apple product: apple pies, apple turnovers, apple dumplings, apple wine, candy apples, chocolate covered specialty apples — the list goes on. But the cherry on the (apple) cake is definitely their cider doughnut. Fried in house with their own awardwinning apple cider and coated in cinnamon and sugar, these doughnuts are as good as can be imagined. You can either order the doughnuts on the phone or get them right up at their counter. Apples, peaches, pears by bag or bushel, 100% all-natural cider made on premises, apple cider vinegar, mums, pumpkins, fall decorations. Gourmet chocolate apples, candy and caramel apples. Hot apple cider donuts all fall! 10 Shop In RI
Confreda Greenhouses and Farm 2150 Scituate Avenue, Cranston 401-827-5000 confredafarms.com
This farm has “Fall Fest’’ where families can purchase tickets for $10 to spend two hours on the farm riding the hayride, exploring the corn maze and picking pumpkins for an additional cost. If you are looking for something spooky you can also buy tickets to Scary Acres, Confreda Farm’s haunted hayride that runs every weekend until Oct. 30 opening at dusk and closing at 10 pm
Barden Family Orchard
56 Elmdale Road, North Scituate 401-934-1413 bardenfamilyorchard.com This orchard is all ready for apple pickers. Take a stroll up the hill and wander the sprawling grounds to choose the juicy varieties of McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Jonagold and Honeycrisp. The farm also presses its own cider and offers a selection of super pumpkins and sherbet-hued gourds. Some peaches are also still hanging on trees and tomatoes are available for purchase, too.
