Where to Go Apple Picking in Rhode Island

It's pick-your-own apple time!
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A selection of apples at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown. Photo courtesy of Sweet Berry Farm/ Katherine Sungarian Gagliano.

Ah, autumn: When the blistering, humid temps of summer finally ease into a pleasant, balmy breeze made for cozy sweaters and fireside chats surrounded by a swath of vivid oranges, reds and yellows. But perhaps most significantly, it’s when most New Englanders’ palates are overcome with a sudden, primal, very specific fruit craving. And while some may default to the patch-grown, spiced latte-flavored variety — yes, pumpkins are fruits — they really can’t hold a jack- o’-lantern candle to the staying power of the apple. There’s a reason this semisweet treat pops up in everything from the story of Adam and Eve to Snow White: Apples are pretty darn irresistible, especially when delicately harvested straight from the branch. Rhode Island has its fair share of admirable orchards, but here’s a deeper dive into some of the ones we have our eyes on this fall.   

Photo by Samantha Labrecque.

Phantom Farms, Cumberland

About: More than a century ago, Thompson Hill was but a blanket of apple trees and cow pastures before William Butler built a farmhouse in the 1930s as a secret hideaway for drinking and gambling during Prohibition. Hence, the name “Phantom” was born. In the 1950s, the Roberts family added a farm stand and cider mill and thus began the property’s farm and orchard operations. The past ten years, in particular, have been dedicated to replanting, and owners Jason and Martha Macari, who took over the beloved fourteen-acre farm in August 2022, plan to build up and continue the farm’s transformation. 

Season: “We are thinking it will be a bit earlier this year, maybe around Sept. 9, due to the rain and humidity,” say the Macaris. “The end date is also determined on how quickly and busy we are in the beginning of the season — it usually lasts around four weeks.”

PYO Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with last entry at 4 p.m.). 

When to Go: No reservations are needed for apple picking, but the Macaris warn that the orchard gets very busy, so it never hurts to stop by on a weekday. 

Pickings: Phantom Farms will offer visitors two sizes of bags for picking. Check the website for pricing.

Good to Know: The farm has a few standard rules when it comes to picking, including no climbing the trees and no shaking of the trees for both the patrons and the trees’ safety. In the same vein, the Macaris advise visitors to be aware of bees and falling apples. Meanwhile, dogs, large bags (for stowing apples) and strollers are prohibited on the orchard’s grounds. 

Apples Available: Phantom Farms grows more than fifteen varieties of apples, including Cortland, Macoun, Fuji, Blondie, Gala, Pink Lady, McIntosh, Honeycrisp and Golden Delicious.

Tips: “Macouns, Gala, Honeycrisp and McIntosh are best for eating,” say the owners. “Cortlands and McIntosh combined make the best baking apples.”

More in Store: In addition to the orchard, Phantom Farms is home to a delicious cafe and bakery. “We also sell bags of pre-picked apples in store, and we make and sell frozen apple crisp, apple crisp topping, fresh sliced apples and apple turnovers,” they add. “Plus, fresh-picked blueberries, hardy mums and a variety of other farm products.” But one of the biggest draws tends to be Phantom Farm’s homemade, fresh-squeezed apple cider. “Pressing season begins around mid-September when the apples are ready. Final press is usually December, but [we] freeze cider to continue [its] availability throughout the year.” 2920 Diamond Hill Rd., Cumberland, 333-2240, phantomfarms.com

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The orchard at Sweet Berry Farm. Photo courtesy of Sweet Berry Farm/ Katherine Sungarian Gagliano.

Sweet Berry Farm, Middletown

About: Sweet Berry Farm began growing strawberries in 1980, earning its name directly from customers who deemed the farm had some of the sweetest varieties around. As time went on, the farm acquired additional acreage by partnering with the Aquidneck Land Trust to preserve the farmland and open space. Over time, additional crops were added to the farm’s offerings, including raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, veggies, pumpkins, Christmas trees and, of course, apples.

Season: Sweet Berry’s apple season begins in early September with varieties like Sansa and Zestar, followed by Ginger Gold and summer McIntosh. Mid-September then sees Gala, Cortland, early Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious and McIntosh. The third week of September brings late Honeycrisp, Macoun, Jona Gold, Empire, early Fuji and late Gala, while the last week of September into mid-October brings Red and Golden Delicious, late Fuji and Crispin (also known as Mutsu).

PYO Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Best Bite: Honeycrisp is Sweet Berry’s most sought-after variety (even owner Jan Eckhart admits it’s a personal favorite), so if that’s what you’re looking for, you might want to set your sights on that mid-September week and get to the orchard before it becomes slim pickins. 

When to Go: While no reservations are required, Eckhart suggests visiting the website or calling ahead of your visit to ensure availability and/or that the farm is operating under its normal hours. “The fall is a very busy time of year for us because we also have pumpkin picking,” he says. “Strawberry season used to be the most popular, but fall has surpassed it.” 

Pickings: The farm will be offering PYO apples by the half-peck (five-plus pounds),  single peck (ten-plus pounds) and half-bushel (twenty-one-plus pounds). You can purchase the bags directly at Sweet Berry’s farmstand. 

Good To Know: “With one hand, grasp the branch the apple is on, then twist and pull gently with the other hand,” Eckhart advises. As for which variety to stock your kitchen with, he maintains that Cortland and McIntosh are typically best for baking, but “a recent trend is to mix any apples for sophisticated flavor.” 

More for the Picking: Sweet Berry Farm also offers pick-your-own (and pre-picked) pumpkins, gourds and flowers like sunflowers and zinnias in mid-September.

More in Store: Sweet Berry Farm’s market store and cafe serves up sandwiches, soups, pizza, ice cream and desserts, which you can enjoy on-site at the indoor or outdoor seating areas. If you’re looking to make something with apples you picked, the store also sells a delicious apple crisp mix with a recipe on the back of the package for your convenience. And if that’s not enough to satiate your fruity cravings, additional offerings include homemade apple cider in both liquid and doughnut form. “The apple cider doughnuts have amazed me because they’re in such high demand. We really had no idea how popular they were until we started making them a few years ago and then people of course asked for more,” says Eckhart. 915 Mitchell’s Ln., Middletown, 847-3912, sweetberryfarmri.com

 

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The eight-foot-tall sasquatch at Narrow Lane Orchard in North Kingstown greets guests as they arrive. courtesy of Narrow Lane Orchard.

Narrow Lane Orchard, North Kingstown

About: The orchard first got its start as Narrow Lane Farm in the eighties, named after the narrow lane that it bordered. “The former owner had it for about twenty-two years prior to selling,” recalls current owner, Stephen Grenier. “The property abutted ours and we didn’t want to see a house flat go up. We were fortunate enough to beg, borrow and steal to buy it in 2004, and we renamed it Narrow Lane Orchard.” The only problem? He and his wife, Sharon, knew next to nothing about fruit-growing. But by taking a few classes at the University of Rhode Island and University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and gaining a helping hand from Heather Faubert, URI’s Plant Protection Clinic director, they became experts in no time. The Greniers went on to increase the orchard’s size by three acres and to plant more apple tree varieties that they knew would attract the masses.

Season: Narrow Lane is home to Honeycrisp, Macoun, Candy Crisp and more. Luckily, Grenier says, this year’s apple crop was not affected like its juicy cousin, the peach. “People usually come in droves in the summer for the Saturn peach — a small white peach that has a hint of vanilla flavor — but because we didn’t have enough cold days last winter, there were no peaches anywhere in New England,” he explains. “The bloom for apples, though, was phenomenal. We’ve had more apples than we’ve ever had — a tremendous number of apples.” The orchard typically opens for apple (and blueberry) picking the second week of August and the season lasts till Halloween. 

PYO Hours: Open daily from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. While you collect the goods, make sure to take advantage of the scenic, mile-long nature trail ringing the perimeter of the orchard. 

Pickings: Grenier says the most popular apple variety (aka the trees that empty out the quickest) is the Honeycrisp followed by the Macoun. Yet, you shouldn’t count out the Empire. “It’s a very delicious apple,” he says. “It’s very crisp and sweet but people are so set in their ways when they hear the Honeycrisp apple is the best apple out there.”

By the Numbers: The orchard has peck-based and half-bushels for sale. Check the website for pricing. 

When to go: Grenier says visitors may want to consider stopping by on a weekday, or even
a day that has less than ideal
weather, to avoid the crowds. Plus, “generally, the third week of September is the best time because that is when a lot of varieties are ripe.” Reservations are not required. 

More for the Picking: Blueberries and blackberries are also ripe for the picking from the second week of August until the second week of September. “We’re also
going to have a pumpkin patch this year, which we’ve never had, around the end of September,” Grenier adds.

More in Store: If the fruits alone aren’t enough to satisfy your fall cravings, the orchard also sells apple crisp, jams and honey. 

Plus: Ever wanted a selfie with a sasquatch? Now’s your chance. “Sharon calls him McIntosh,” Grenier says. “He’s about eight feet tall and carved out of a tree! We were visiting my daughter in Vermont and there’s an incredible wood carver out there. We were driving down the road and I saw it and I just said, ‘I have to have that.’” Giant apple in hand, McIntosh now stands at Narrow Lane’s orchard and greets guests with a snaggle-toothed smirk.

Where Else: Narrow Lane regularly
appears at farmers markets including Fridays at Goddard Park, Saturdays at URI and Sundays down in Galilee through October. 213 Narrow Ln., North Kingstown, 294-3584, narrowlaneorchardri.com

 

Also Check Out:

Jaswell’s Farm

Hours: Wed.–Mon. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Tuesdays

Location: 50 Swan Rd., Smithfield, 401-231-9043, jaswellsfarm.com

The first apples of the season are ready, and picking in the orchards will continue throughout October. Apple-pickers must book a time-slot reservation (for groups of up to six ) and pay in advance on the website. If you have more than six people in your party, you will need to make multiple reservations. There is no cost per person, just the cost of the bag(s), which are $28 for a peck (hold more than ten pounds, recommended for groups for groups of three or fewer) and $48 for a half-bushel (twenty-plus pounds). The farm also presses and pasteurizes its own fresh apples on the largest apple cider mill in the state. Don’t forget to try Jaswell’s candy apples — think red candy, chocolate-covered caramel or gourmet-topped with mini M&Ms or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups — made on site. Other goodies include fresh baked pies, cookies, cider doughnuts plus a trove of fresh-picked veggies from the fields.

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Picking apples at Steere Orchard in Greenville. Photograph courtesy of Steere Orchard.

Steere Orchard

Hours: Daily, 9-4:30 p.m.

Location: 150 Austin Ave., Greenville, 401-949-1456, steereorchard.com

One of the biggest orchards in the state, Steere Orchard is open for picking through late fall for picking several types of apples including Macoun, Honeycrisp, Gala, Cortland, Red and Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Rhode Island Greening. Each week they alternate picking sections, plus there’s produce (including peaches and pumpkins) and other goodies (like jams, jellies, apple butter and cider) available for purchase in the farm store.

 

Photo by Jamie Coelho.

 

Barden Family Orchard

Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 9 a.m.­–5 p.m.; Fri.–Sun. and holidays 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The farm store is open until 6 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends.

Location: 56 Elmdale Rd., North Scituate, 401-934-1413, bardenfamilyorchard.com

This orchard is ready for apple pickers. Walk up the big hill and wander the sprawling grounds to fill a bag with varieties such as Cortland, Golden Supreme, Rhode Island Greening, . Check their pick-you-own page to learn which varieties are at their peak before you go. Pricing varies based on the number of apples picked, with prices by the half bushel (twenty pounds), peck (ten pounds) and half-peck (five pounds), plus quarter-peck (four pounds) for children ages six to eleven and senior citizens only. The farm also presses its own sweet apple cider, and later in the fall offers a selection of big pumpkins and butternut squash.

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Photo by Kaitlyn Murray

 

Sunset Orchard Farm

Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., including Labor Day and Columbus Day

Location: 244 Gleaner Chapel Rd., North Scituate, 401-934-1900, sunsetorchardsri.com

Visitors to Sunset Orchard have up to twenty-five different varieties of apples from which to choose, including Empire, McIntosh, Cortland, Ida Red, North West Greening and Macoun as well as heirloom varieties. The farm designates each variety with a different colored ribbon so you can easily find the apples you’re looking for in the orchard. But note, each apple variety does have its own season, so you may want to call ahead or visit the Facebook page to find out if they have what you want. The farm’s store stocks fresh-picked orchard fruit as well as homemade apple pies, non-pasteurized apple cider pressed fresh on the farm, candied apples and other sweet treats.

 

Editor’s note: This story is frequently updated.

 

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Photo by Kaitlyn Murray

 

 

 

Apple of RI

Did you know that Little Rhody has an official state fruit? That’s right, up in the same symbol status ranks as the Rhode Island Red and coffee milk (state bird and state drink, respectively) is the Rhode Island Greening. And believe it or not, the name did not come about as a result of its coloring. According to legend, the first of its kind was grown around 1650 from a seedling by a Mr. Green in none other than the Green’s End area of Middletown. This Mr. Green owned a tavern in town and originally called his creation the “Green’s Inn Apples from Rhode Island,” but eventually the name was pared down to Rhode Island Greening. A cousin to the Granny Smith in both its look and crisp taste, the species was once the most popular apple grown in New York during the nineteenth century. The hype may have died down a bit since, but it will forever live in our state archives, ahem, hearts. 

 

Photo by Jamie Coelho.

Apples to Apples 

Never know what to pick when you get to the orchard? Here’s a cheat sheet for some of the most common apples grown in Rhode Island. 

Cortland

Color: Ruby red 

Taste: Tart

Size: Large

Good for: Pies, cider, salads 

 

Macoun 

Color: Deep red with hints of green

Taste: Sweet

Size: Medium to large  

Good for: Baking

 

Fuji 

Color: Red with streaks of yellow

Taste: Sweet

Size: Small to medium

Good for: Snacking

 

Gala 

Color: Red-streaked 

Taste: Sweet, crisp

Size: Medium

Good for: Crisps, cobblers and pies

 

Pink Lady

Color: Reddish pink 

Taste: Sweet and tart

Size: Medium

Good for: Cooking

 

McIntosh

Color: Red

Taste: Mild, tart

Size: Medium

Good for: Everything

 

Honeycrisp 

Color: Red and yellow

Taste: Sweet, juicy 

Size: Medium to large

Good for: Munching

 

Golden Delicious

Color: Yellow 

Taste: Mild, sweet 

Size: Large 

Good for: Munching, pies, salads 

 

Empire 

Color: Red with patches of green/yellow

Taste: Sweet

Size: Medium 

Good for: Munching

 

Candy Crisp 

Color: Yellow with hints of red 

Taste: Sweet, juicy 

Size: Large 

Good for: Snacking

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