Autumn in Franklin County: The Beginning of Apple Season
As summer wanes, Franklin County comes alive with the freshest hues of apple season. In Massachusetts, apple harvesting typically begins in early September—when early varieties like McIntosh, Honeycrisp, and Gala become ready to pick—while many others follow through mid to late October.
Local orchards start welcoming visitors as soon as September, offering pick‑your‑own opportunities amid panoramic views of three states.
Clarkdale Fruit Farm, a long‑standing family orchard in Deerfield founded in 1915, offers pick‑your‑own McIntosh, Gala, and Cortland daily, along with a market stocked with eggs, maple syrup, honey, and freshly pressed cider,
Across the region, apple varieties follow a gentle succession: McIntosh begins ripening in early September; by mid‑September to mid‑October, you’ll find Honeycrisp, Macoun, Cortland, and Empire becoming available; then toward late October and into November, late‑season favorites like Fuji, Baldwin, and Northern Spy come into harvest.