Photo: Carl Stevens (WBZ)
PEABODY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — October is prime apple picking season, and a lot of apple pickers are expected to show up at Brooksby Farm in Peabody this holiday weekend.
"Columbus Day weekend is definitely peak," Farm Manager JoAnne Roden told WBZ NewsRadio. "If you look around, the trees are all changing, the mornings are chilly, you want to come out and do something fun."
Roden, who began working at the farm at 54 Felton St. in 1988, sees apple picking as a family tradition that visitors love to continue.
"You grew up doing it as a kid," Roden said. "You came as a family, picked apples, you got your cider donuts and your hot cider. And you now want to do it with your family, you want to show them what you did as a kid."
Despite Massachusetts experiencing a significant drought that has lasted several months, Roden wants to assure visitors that the drought has not seriously impacted this year's apple crop.
"A lot of our trees are smaller trees, so they’re on drip irrigation," said Roden. "We’ve been able to keep up with it. You’ll see some varieties might be a little smaller, but in general it’s a decent crop."
In addition to apples, Brooksby Farm's seasonal crops also include cherries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, winter and summer squash, watermelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other assorted fruits and vegetables. The farm also hosts barnyard animals, autumn hayrides, greenhouse flowers, campfire and smores on various fall weekends, field trips, birthday parties, weddings, and other events.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App