Dondero Orchards

Dondero Orchards on Woodland Street has one of the longest crop lists in Connecticut and an unusually honest note about how the picking works when the trees are too far to walk to.

What You Can Pick

• Strawberries - June
• Blueberries and black raspberries - summer
• Peaches and plums - late summer
• Apples and pears - autumn, many varieties
• Rhubarb, pumpkins, tomatoes and lettuce

Good to Know

On the October apples, in the farm's own words: "Many varieties of apples. Some varieties may be displayed in bins for you to select from because the trees are not with in walking distance for pick your own. They are all freshly picked and available at the same price as if you picked them." [sic]

The farm writes proper variety notes. On Macoun: "The most asked for apple for eating, also good for culinary uses. It is a cross of the Macintosh and Jersey Black. It has a short season and it seems the trees produce a hardy crop only every other year." On Granny Smith: "Probably the most tart apple for the fall season... loved for eating by those who seek tart apples. Ripens: Mid October."

Open for the season, closed Tuesdays. There is a bakery, a greenhouse, farm dinners and a CSA.

Pro tip: the bin caveat is worth reading twice. Some of what Dondero calls pick-your-own in October is a tray of apples somebody else picked, sold at the same price. Ask at the counter which blocks are actually open to walk into that day.