2024 Boston and surrounding counties in Massachusetts Tomato U-Pick Farms and Orchards - PickYourOwn.org

Tomato U-Pick Orchards in Boston and surrounding counties in Massachusetts in 2024, by county

Below are the U-Pick orchards and farms for tomatoes that we know of in this area. Not all areas of any state, nor even every state, have tomatoes 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.

Middlesex County

• Carver Hill Orchard - Apples, blueberries, cherries, corn (sweet), flowers, pears, peaches, peppers, pumpkins, strawberries, tomatoes, other vegetables, Christmas trees-you choose and you cut, Precut Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths and boughs, Christmas decorations, saws provided, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, and prepicked produce, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, wagon rides
  Brookside Avenue, Stow, MA 1775. Phone: 978-897-6117. Email: cclord@hotmail.com. Open: Mid June to August Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM. Directions: Take Route 117 to Stow, MA. Take Route 62 South for .2 miles and Brookside Ave is on your left. Follow the road to the end. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard.
  Carver Hill Orchard Facebook page. . Click here for picking updates. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October, November, December. September through December open 10 AM to 5 PM 7 days a week. Kitchen available for hotdogs, chips snacks and Ice Cream! Facebook page.
• Honors Farm Stand - Uses natural growing practices, beans, beets, broccoli, corn (sweet), cucumbers, eggplant, flowers, herbs or spices, pears, pumpkins, summer squash, tomatoes, other vegetables, Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs
  52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA 2453. Phone: (781) 894-2798. Email: goreplace@goreplace.org. Open: Wednesday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm. Directions: The Farm Stand is located next to the Farmer\'s Cottage at Gore Place. Enter from Grove Street \(Waltham Street in Watertown\). To spot the entrance, just look for the \". Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Visa, MasterCard.
  Honors Farm Stand Facebook page. . Fax: (781) 894-5745. . The Farm Stand is located next to the Farmer's Cottage at Gore Place. Enter from Grove Street (Waltham Street in Watertown). To spot the entrance"
• Meadow Mist Farm - asparagus, beans, beets, blueberries, carrots, eggplant, flowers, grapes, herbs or spices, peas, peppers, raspberries (Autumn, red), raspberries (Autumn, black), summer squash, winter squash, tomatoes, Turkeys (organic, not-hormone-fed), Honey from hives on the farm, Fresh eggs
  142 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA 2421. Phone: 781-354-5037. Email: laurenyaffee@gmail.com. Open: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: From 95\(128\) : If you are coming from route 95 \(128\), the exit for route 2A is one exit north of the route 2 exit. Go east on route 2A \(Marrett Road\) until you reach a traffic light at the Waltham Street intersection. There are two gas stations at this intersection. Continue straight through this intersection and stay on 2A east. Bacon Street is your second right after this intersection. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only.
  Meadow Mist Farm Facebook page. . . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. From 95/(128) : If you are coming from route 95 (128), the exit for route 2A is one exit north of the route 2 exit. Go east on route 2A (Marrett Road) until you reach a traffic light at the Waltham Street intersection. There are two gas stations at this intersection. Continue straight through this intersection and stay on 2A east. Bacon Street is your second right after this intersection. Strawberries June Blueberries July Raspberries August-October Concord Grapes, Some Pumpkins, Corn Stocks September- October.

Norfolk County

• Tangerini's Spring Street Farm, Inc. - Uses natural growing practices, Apples, pumpkins, blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, cherry tomatoes, concessions or refreshment stand, restrooms, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours
  139 Spring Street, Millis, MA 2054. Phone: 508-376-5024. Email: tangerinifarm@verizon.net. Open: Sunday - Saturday, from 9 am to Dusk, May 1 pm to October 30. Directions: Located 25 miles southwest of Boston just off Route 109, halfway between Route 128 and Route 495. . Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover.
  Tangerini's Spring Street Farm, Inc. Facebook page. . Alternate Phone: 508-667-7638. . Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Blueberry Picking: Early July Tomato Picking: Late August Apple Picking: Early September Pumpkin Picking- Mid September. We use natural practices, but are not seeking organic certification. All our produce is raised organically except apples and sweet corn. A visitor writes on September 15, 2014: "We visited Tangerini's for the first time yesterday and loved it. Pick your own apples and tomatoes in abundance, as well as lovely staff, a great farmstand and delicious cafe/ice cream stand. We had fresh salads, homemade hummus wraps, and ice cream, followed by an afternoon of picking. Highly recommend. "
  Comments from a visitor on October 08, 2008: "vegetables, fruit, and flowers for picking and purchasing from April through November. Holiday wreaths and garlands are available in December. There is a small, child-size only hay maze in the barn. There's also an ice cream stand, small store, and hay rides. Members of the CSA have reported that everything is organic except the corn. "

 

Tomato Picking Tips, Recipes and Information

Pick tomatoes that are firm and free of blemishes. Cracking is common in very hot weather, especially after a rain, and if you intend to use the tomatoes within 1 day, that will be ok.

During hot summer weather, pick the tomatoes when they have a healthy pink/red (or yellow or orange depending on the variety) color and let them finish the last day or two of ripening indoors. Tomatoes do not need to be in the sunlight in order to ripen. If you have green fruit on the plants in the fall when frost is approaching, pick the tomatoes and store them in a cool, dark place to ripen.

Tomato Varieties

In general paste or Roma-type tomatoes are the best to using for canning, as they have thicker, meatier walls and far less water. And cherry tomatoes are the worst to use, as they are mostly water.  But you can use any type you can get hold of.  You may just have to cook them down longer to boil off excess water.  See our Master list of tomato varieties

Growing tomatoes

• Master list of tomato varieties
• Master List of Heirloom Tomato Varieties
• How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Yard or Patio - Everything you need to know
• Detailed directions to starting tomatoes from seed
• Master List of Roma and Paste Tomato Varieties for the Home Garden
• Master list of disease-resistant tomato varieties
• Tomato plant diseases

Canning, Freezing, Drying, Preserving Tomatoes and more!

Below are links to pages with easy and reliable directions about how to can, preserve, freeze and make other goodies from tomatoes.  Some of these require a Pressure Canner to prevent potential spoilage and food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food.  For others, you can use a water bath canner OR a Pressure Canner.  I've noted what's required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!

And don't miss: Answers to common tomato canning problems and see this page about what to do with your unripe green tomatoes!

Prepping tomatoes

• How to quickly and easily remove tomato skins

Canning tomatoes (in water bath canners )

• How to can tomatoes using a water bath canner - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Bruschetta - W
• Tomato sauce - W
• Tomato paste - W
• Barbecue sauce (BBQ sauce) - W
• Chili sauce from your own tomatoes and peppers - W
• Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W
• Tomato Preserves- W
• Tomato salsa - W
• Spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
• Spiced Green tomatoes- W
• Pickled Green Tomatoes - W - another pickled green tomato recipe, this one sweet
• Ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
• NEW! SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe - W
• Salsa from your unripe, GREEN tomatoes! - W
• Tomatillo salsa - W
• How to make roasted tomatoes, boiling water bath canner version - W

Canning Tomatoes in Pressure canners

• Canned tomatoes using a Pressure Canner - P
• Baked  Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
• Canning your own chili con carne (with meat) - P
• How to make roasted tomatoes, pressure canner version - P
• Spaghetti sauce - with meat  - P
• Stewed tomatoes - P
• Tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - P
• Tomato sauce - P
• Tomato juice - P
• Tomato juice, like V8 - P

Freezing Tomatoes

• How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
• Space-saving prepping and freezing extra tomatoes from your garden to can later

Drying tomatoes

• NEW! How to make Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Food drying basics and principles
• How to dry your own herbs
• Food Dehydrators - models, specs and pricing information

Ripening green tomatoes in your garage or basement

If you want to bring your green tomatoes indoors before a freeze in the Fall, and ripen them, see:

• How to ripen your green garden tomatoes indoors in the Fall and Winter.

And if you'd like to start you own tomatoes from seed (you can save a small fortune and grow the heirloom varieties you like) see this page for easy directions for growing your own tomato plants from seed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Canning, Freezing and Preserving Tomatoes

• See this page for answers to many common questions about tomatoes.

 

Other Local Farm Products (Honey, Horses, Milk, Meat, Eggs, Etc.)
(NOT pick-your-own, unless they are also listed above)

• Farm markets and roadside stands
• Local Honey Finder
• Local Meat, Milk and Eggs
• Venues: Farms, Wineries, Orchards for your event, wedding or party
• Easter egg hunts
• Children"s consignment sales
• Fruit and vegetable festivals
• Winery tours and wine tastings
• Horse rides, stables, lessons, trails
• Maple Syrup farms and sugarworks
• Bed & Breakfasts on Farms, Wineries, Ranches and Orchards
• Pumpkin patches
• Corn mazes
• Zombie Paintball venues
• Christmas Tree Farms & lots
• Environmental resources
• Consumer fraud information
• Wholesale food sources
• Resources for Farmers