2024 Southeastern New Hampshire Peach U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org
Find a pick-your-own farm near you! Then learn to can and freeze! Since 2002! We update continuously; Beware the copycat websites!
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Peach U-Pick Orchards in Southeastern New Hampshire in 2024, by county
Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for peaches that we know of in this area.
Not all areas of a state have peaches orchards that are open to the public. If you know of any others, please tell us using the add a farm form!
Remember to always check with the farm's own website or Facebook page before you go - or call or email them if they don't have a website or Facebook page. Conditions at the farms and crops can change literally overnight, so if you want to avoid a wasted trip out there - check with the farm directly before you go! If I cannot reach them, I DON'T GO!
PLEASE report closed farms, broken links and incorrect info using the "Report Corrections" form below.
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Rockingham County
Applecrest Farm Orchards, Inc. - - Apples, strawberries, vegetables, peaches and nectarines, make your own cider, and hayrides 133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, NH 03844. Phone: 603-926-3721. Email: info@applecrest.com. Open: 8 am to 6 pm. Click here for a map and directions. Fax: 926-0006 i Pick your own apples or pumpkins, make your own cider, and hayrides thru the orchards in the fall. We even offer a storybook hayride! STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Sunday, June 16, 2013 (10 am to 3 pm). Four rolling acres of juicy berries and a cool spring-fed pond provide the backdrop for a fun-filled day of Pick-Your-Own strawberries, free live bluegrass music, tractor drawn hayrides, face painting, cider donuts and a bevy of strawberry inspired delicacies from our very own scratch kitchen and bakery. Our Fall festivals launch on the first weekend in September and run from 11 am to 5 pm, both Saturday and Sunday, every weekend, through the end of October. Here's what you can expect: Pick-Your-Own Apples, Raspberries, Peaches & Pumpkins. Cut-your-own flowers too! FREE live Folk and Bluegrass music (1 pm - 5 pm. Old-Fashioned ice cream barn with 25 local-made flavors featuring our own grown-on-the-farm fruits. Horse-drawn Hayrides (10 am to 4:45 pm). Children's Petting Zoo (10 am to 4:45 pm). Face Painting & Balloons. Pie Eating Contests. Apple Pie & Ice Cream. Old-Fashioned Hot Cider Donuts. Make-your-own Scarecrow. Our Famous Corn Roast featuring: grilled gourmet sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, fire-roasted corn, Maine clam chowder, fresh pressed apple cider and more. Early September is always a great time to Pick-Your-Own, as we have FOUR great offerings to choose from: Apples, Pumpkins, Raspberries & Peaches. A visitor writes on September 22, 2020: "Apples were $30/peck PYO"
Monahan Farm - Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, green beans, corn, and squash. 2 South Road, East Kingston, NH 03827. Phone: 603-642-8186. Open: mid-June-September, call for hours. Click here for a map and directions. Monahan Farm Phone:, operational during farm season
Oliver Merrill and Sons LLC - apples, peaches, berries, vegetables and eggs, Farm market, Wide variety of seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables, 5569 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH 03053. Phone: 603-622-6636. Email: merrillfarmsnh@gmail.com. Open: See their website for current hours. Click here for a map and directions. Apples, peaches, pears, raspberries , other fruits and vegetables. PYO.
Strafford County
Demeritt Hill Farm - apples, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, face painting, pony rides, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours 66 Lee Road (route 155), Lee, NH 03861. Phone: (603) 868-2111. Email: info@demeritthillfarm.com. Open: See our website or call the store to get our current days and hours. Directions: Merge onto I-95 N toward N.H.Maine \(Portions toll\). Take the US-4RT-16 exit- Exit 4- on the left toward N.H. LakesWhite Mts.Spaulding Turnpike. Merge onto NH-16 NSpaulding Turnpike \(Portions toll\). Merge onto US-4 W via EXIT 6W toward US-202Dover PointConcord. Take the RT-155A ramp toward University of New HampshireDurham. Turn right onto NH-155A. Turn right onto Lee RoadNH-155. DeMeritt Hill Farm is on the right side of the road. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. . Merge onto I-95 N toward N.H./Maine (Portions toll). Take the US-4/RT-16 exit- Exit 4- on the left toward N.H. Lakes/White Mts./Spaulding Turnpike. Merge onto NH-16 N/Spaulding Turnpike (Portions toll). Merge onto US-4 W via EXIT 6W toward US-202/Dover Point/Concord. Take the RT-155A ramp toward University of New Hampshire/Durham. Turn right onto NH-155A. Turn right onto Lee Road/NH-155. is on the right side of the road. Crops are usually available in August, September, October, November, December Hosting your next school tour is our specialty! We have hosted hundreds of schools from all over New England with various themes. There is no group that is too large or too small. Each year, over four thousand school children visit our farm and walk away with their own positive memories. Our tour guides all have years of experience teaching children of all ages and abilities. We look forward to booking your next fall school trip Comments from a visitor on September 26, 2009: "My husband and I took our daughter to this farm. She's almost 3 years old. It is FANTASTIC! There's not only the pick-your-own there, but a few animals, and a playground better than most parks in the area. We will take her again-- we enjoyed it, too. " Comments from a visitor on January 10, 2009: "I love this farm, established in 1820 by the DeMeritt Family, it is so interesting and it FEELS so NH (I should know as a native..). The shops goods are incredible, the apples delicious and wonderful views for our family when we go apple picking! My husband and I walk their all the time with our dog, we bring all our friends from Germany here, and we just love it."
Ridge Runner's Farm - Flowers, raspberries, blueberries, peaches & nectarines, fresh dug perennials 16160 Ridge Road Top, New Durham, NH 03855. Phone: 603-859-7840. Email: ridgerunnersfarm@gmail.com. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; they expect to stay open through the first week of September, but conditions can always change, so always call ahead. Click here for a map and directions. Ridge Runner's Farm Facebook page. Note: 2013 will be their last year in business. See this news story(UPDATED: August 18, 2013)
Tuts Blueberries - Uses integrated pest management practices, apples, blackberries, blueberries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, raspberries (red), Maple Syrup from trees on the farm, Cider mill fresh apple cider made on the premises, restrooms 64 Bolan Rd, Milton, NH 03851. Phone: (603) 652-8380. Email: tutsblueberries51@gmail.com. Open: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm, from July1 to October1. Directions: Spaulding turnpike exit 17E,east on route 175 1 mile, left on route 125 north 4 miles right on Bolan road one half mile the farm is on the right. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. Blueberry picking is usually July 15 to September 1;. We use integrated pest management practices(ADDED: August 05, 2021) (ADDED: July 01, 2015)
Peaches
Peach Picking Tips, Recipes and Information
In
the U.S., Peaches typically peak during late June through July in the South, and
July and August in the North. In order to produce good local peaches, producers
depend on ideal spring and early summer weather conditions, and no late frosts.
If you want to know
which are the best varieties of
peaches for home canning, see this page!
Before you leave to go to the farm:
Always call before you go to the farm - Peaches are affected by weather
(both rain and cooler temperature) more than most crops. And when they are
in season, a large turnout can pick a field clean before noon, so CALL
first!
Leave
early. On weekends, then fields may be picked clean by NOON!
Most growers furnish picking containers designed for peaches, but they may
charge you for them; be sure to call before you go to see if you need to
bring
containers.
If you use your own containers, remember that heaping Peaches more than 14
inches deep will bruise the fruit on the bottom.
Plastic dishpans, metal oven pans with 3 inch tall sides and large
pots make good containers.
Bring
something to drink and a few snacks; you'd be surprised how you can work up
a thirst and appetite! And don't forget hats and sunscreen for the sun. Bugs
usually aren't a problem, but some deet might be good to bring along if it
has been rainy.
You might want to ask whether the peaches are! There are two major types of
peaches: "Freestone" and. "Clingstone". Freestone peaches and nectarines
have flesh that slips easily away from the pit. Clingstones are a REAL pain,
because the fruit tenaciously clings to the stone or pit! Most peach
varieties grown today are freestone and are usually available (depending
upon your location) from June through September. Some nectarines are
freestone and some are clingstone. Freestone nectarines are available in
June and July. Most plum varieties are clingstone.
When you get home
Spread the fruit out on towels or newspapers and separate any mushy or
damaged fruit to use immediately.
Put a couple of days supply into the fridge, wash and cut the others and
freeze them up!
Even under ideal conditions peaches will only keep for a week in a
refrigerator, so for best flavor and texture, use them as soon as possible
after purchase
Ripe peaches have a creamy or golden undertone and "peachy-sweet"
fragrance.
Peaches should be refrigerated and used within a few days.
Putting peaches and nectarines in a loosely closed paper bag at room
temperature for a day or two can help soften firm fruit - but they won't
become sweeter or ripen further - that stopped when they were removed from
th etree.
For best flavor, allow the fruit to ripen fully on the tree.
Store at 33 F to 40 F and high humidity (a vegetable drawer in the
fridge).
How to tell if the peaches are ripe!
Attached to the tree: Peaches are best picked when the fruit
separates easily from the twigs. If it is hard to pull off the tree, it
isn't ripe! Peaches will not ripen further once removed from the tree (they
only "soften")
Color: Green is definitely unripe, but you can't use red color as
an indicator of how ripe a peach is. Different peach varieties have
differing amounts of red blush in their natural coloring. Pick them when the
ground color changes from green to yellow, orange, red (or a combination).
The skin of yellow-fleshed varieties ripens to an orange tint, while the
skin of white-fleshed varieties changes from greenish- to yellow-white.
Softness: unless you
like your peaches very firm, pick your peaches with just a little "give"
when gently pressed. Peaches at this stage are great for eating, freezing,
and baking. Peaches won't ripen very much after picking!
Odor: It should smell sweet and ripe!
Tips on How to Pick Peaches
A
peach is softer than most fruit, so it is important to pick a peach gently, with
little pressure. Using the sides of your fingers rather your fingertips helps to
avoid bruising. Grab the peach firmly and pull it straight off the branch.
DON'T drop the peach into the basket, but set it in gently!
Marks on the Peachs: Bugs (particularly squash bugs and stink bugs)
bite fruit during development and this results in some imperfections in the
peach. This is especially the case with organically raised fruit. These
look like dents in the peaches if the peaches were bitten by a bug when they
were young. This causes a spot that does not grow properly and makes a wrinkle
in the peach. There's nothing wrong with these peaches. They may look funny, but
they will taste just as good as blemish-free peaches, and it's better not to
have the pesticides!
How much do you need?
Raw measures:
About 2 medium peaches = 1 cup sliced peaches.
About 4 medium peaches = 1 cup pureed peach.
About 3 medium peaches = 1 pound of peaches
Process yields (Raw amounts to processed amounts)
2 to 21/2 pounds of fresh peaches yields 1 quart canned
1 lb of fresh peaches typically yields 3 cups of peeled, sliced peaches
or 2 cups or puree.
It takes about 5 good sizes peaches or nectarines (or about 10 plums) to
fill one quart jar of canned peaches.
An average of 171/2 pounds of fresh peaches are needed per canner load of
7 quarts;
An average of 11 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints.
1 bushel = 48 to 50 pounds, yields approximately 18 to 25 quart jars.
And a visitor contributes this: 6-7 peaches makes about 4 cups puree, so 2-3
peaches make about 2 cups puree. 1 peach equals about 1 cup puree.
Peaches - Average retail price per pound and per cup
equivalent, Most recent data (2020)
Form
Average retail price *3
Preparation yield factor
Size of a cup equivalent
Unit
Average price per cup equivalent
Fresh *1
$1.72
per pound
0.96
0.342
pounds
$0.61
Canned
Packed in juice *2
$2.02
per pound
1
0.540
pounds
$1.09
Packed in syrup or water *3
$1.81
per pound
0.65
0.441
pounds
$1.23
Frozen
$3.39
per pound
1
0.331
pounds
$1.12
Note 1 - The USDA National Nutrient Database for
Standard Reference (SR) reports that the inedible pit of a peach accounts for 4 percent of the retail weight, implying a preparation yield
of 96 percent, when eaten raw.
Note 2 - Consumers are assumed to eat the solid
fruit and drink the juice. All contents of the can are edible and count towards an individual's recommended fruit consumption.
Note 3 - The syrup (or water) is discarded prior
to consumption. Based on the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED), ERS assumes that 65 percent of the can's gross weight is solid and
35 percent is liquid. The FPED cup equivalent weight for canned fruit is the weight of the solids and not of the liquid medium in which it
is packed. The preparation yield factor for canned peaches in the above table does not account for any further preparation that occurs prior
to consumption.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service calculations from 2020 Circana (formerly Information
Resources, Inc. [IRI]) OmniMarket Core Outlets (formerly InfoScan) data; the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR),
Legacy Release; and the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) 2017�18 as well as the FPED's accompanying Methodology and User Guide.
---
Peach pit tips
It's best to remove peach pits before you cook the peaches. Cherry, peach,
and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, in potentially harmful
amounts. Fortunately, peach and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard
that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer
drug See this page for more
information&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/laetrile">Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of
laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.)
See this page for more
information.