Produce
Fruits and Berries
Apples: With over 50 varieties and heirloom types, apples are a cornerstone of New Hampshire agriculture. Scooter’s Farm of Woodmont has pick-your-own varieties you won’t find in a grocery store. Check out their varieties, such as “Pristine, William’s Pride, Redfree, Premier HoneyCrisp, Initial, HoneyCrisp, NovaMac, CrimsionGold, CrimsonCrisp, Triumph, Liberty, Galarina, Florina, Story, Golden Russet”. Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis grows over 30 different PYO varieties over the course of the season! Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole or Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls also offer PYO apples from late August to October. Many orchards also produce cider, applesauce, and apple butter.
Stone Fruits: Butternut Farm in Farmington has peaches and cherries, while Greenhill Farm in Sutton offers peaches, pears, and grapes during late summer. Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls has peaches and nectarines.
Berries: New Hampshire farms offer a wide variety of berries, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, elderberries, and snozberries. (OK, just kidding on that last one). Berry Good Farm in Goffstown grows five different kinds of blueberries: BlueCrop, BlueRay, Northland, Patriot and Collins.
Medlars: Have you heard of this medieval fruit tree? It’s OK… we hadn’t either! It’s a member of the rose family, producing fruit that tastes like apple butter, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Try it out at the hilariously named Grow a Pear Farm in Charlestown!
Pumpkins and Gourds: Available in the fall, many farms such as Patch Orchards in Lebanon and Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis provide pumpkins for pies, jack-o-lanterns, and fall decor. (And yes, pumpkins are technically fruits, not vegetables!)
Vegetables
Leafy Greens and Salad Mixes: Farms like Longview Farm in Plymouth grow lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and Asian greens. Hydroponic farms, such as North Country Growers in Berlin, produce year-round greens.
Root Vegetables and Squash: Root vegetables like rutabagas, beets, and sweet potatoes are available at farms like Brookford Farm in Canterbury, even into winter. Check out Heron Pond Farm in South Hampton for a variety of multi-colored carrots and potatoes, as well as several types of winter squash (including our favorite, delicata) They’re perfect for storing in a root cellar, if you’re fortunate enough to have one!
Tomatoes, Corn, and More: Summer brings sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini to farm stands like LaValley Farms in Hooksett or Mink Meadow Farm in Etna.
Garlic: Did you know that more than a third of the fresh garlic sold in the U.S., and almost ALL of the dried garlic, is imported from China? It’s often treated with methyl bromide, a possible human carcinogen and known environmental contaminant that’s heavily restricted (except when they’re fumigating your food in it, that is…) Nubi River Farm in Peterborough grows ten different varieties that vary in size, taste, and color. Buy it local and avoid the methyl bromide!
Mushrooms
Several New Hampshire farms sell their own mushrooms; for example, check out the amazing selection at Dunk’s Mushrooms in Brentwood! They sell Lion’s Mane, Shiitake, Oyster (Blue, Yellow and King), Black Pearl, Chestnuts, Phoenix, wild mushrooms, and more…even mushroom jerky! The Spice of Life farm in North Conway and the Mountain View Mushroom Farm in Monroe both grow oyster and shiitake mushrooms. Mountain View also has lion’s mane.
Grains
Tuckaway Farm – cornmeal
The Forsyth Family Farm in Gilford is a distributor of oats and cornmeal grown by Granite Grains Farm in Amherst.
Alprilla Farm in Warner sells New Hampshire-grown whole wheat and rye flours.