FAQ

When are Honeycrisp apples ripe? Do you grow
Northern Spy or Ashmead's Kernel?

To find out which varieties of apples we grow and when they will be in season, please check our crop availability chart. Of course, this is just a guide, as Mother Nature is unpredictable. If you absolutely must know if a particular variety is currently picking, please call our Market 926-3721.

Are dogs allowed on the farm?

Dogs are allowed over most areas of the Applecrest Farm property but are NOT permitted in any picking areas except our apple orchards, where well behaved dogs are allowed. As always, dogs must be kept strictly on leash at all times and we ask that dog owners responsibly clean up after their pets.

Do you offer handicap accessible bathrooms?

We are sorry to say that our Porta-Potties are not handicap-specific. We will try our best to accommodate any special needs you may have, just call us ahead of time to see what we can do to make your trip more enjoyable.

Do you offer school tours?

Yes! We love when children visit us. Please visit our School Tour page for specific information.

Can we only pick our own fruit on weekends?

Pick-your-own is open every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please call ahead (926-3721) for picking conditions.

Is your farm organic?

Our goal is to preserve the health of our orchards for our children and future generations. We strive to be sensitive and respectful of the environment by using a combination of old-school farming techniques and cutting-edge technology to sustainably grow the highest quality fruit and vegetables. We weed by hand, plant cover crops, and use plastic sheeting to inhibit weed growth. We rotate our crops to keep the soil nutrient rich and we were one of the first farms in NH to adopt Integrated Pest Management practices so that we use the smallest amount of the safest pesticides only when absolutely necessary. Find out more about our growing practices.

How many apples are in a peck?

It depends upon the size of the apple of course. If the apples are small, you can expect about 35 apples to the peck. If they are large, a peck holds about 24 apples. In terms of pounds, there are about 10 lbs of apples in a peck. A bushel is four times as large, weighing in at 40 pounds.

We hear you grow more than apples. What else do you harvest?

Indeed! We grow asparagus, beans, beets, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, corn, cucumbers, flowers, herbs, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, peas, potatoes, radish, raspberries, rhubarb, squash, strawberries, tomatoes, and zucchini.

Do you offer tractor rides, hayrides, and the petting zoo on weekdays?

Nope. We only offer those on our Harvest Festival weekends during September and October.

When do you hold your amazing Harvest Festivals?

Our Fall Apple Harvest Festivals launch on the first weekend in September and run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday, every weekend, through the end of October. Free live blue grass music begins at 1 p.m. If it's raining, please call ahead to make sure the festival is still a go. Visit our Festival Page for more information.

What can we expect at your Harvest Festivals?

Pick-your-own Apples, Raspberries, Peaches & Pumpkins
FREE live Folk and Bluegrass music (beginning at 1:00 p.m.)
Horse-drawn Hayrides (last ride at 4:00 p.m.)
Children's Petting Zoo
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.

Can we go cross-country skiing on the property?

While the farm is open year round, we do not offer an official cross-country trail system. But if you would like to ski, just give us a call to ask for permission before heading out. All skiing is at your own risk.

What is a Storybook Hayride?

Each October, beloved fairy tale characters take to our orchards, performing vignettes for enthralled children perched on a roving hay wagon. In eight lively scenes, kids partake in the classics, warning Little Red of the approaching wolf, watching Humpty Dumpty have his great fall, listening to a gangsta rappin' spider in Little Miss Muffet, and much more. Along the journey, the children's waiting goody bags are filled with wholesome Halloween treats. Storybook hayrides cost $5 for adults, $7 per child (including goody bag) and run from 10 am to 4 pm on October 24-25. Proceeds help finance the Winnacunnet High School Drama Club's yearly sojourn to NYC to take-in a Broadway show.

Do you have poison ivy?

We try our very best to control poison ivy - even pulling it out with our hands. It sure is an insipid pest! But with 250 acres, it is almost impossible to eradicate completely. In places where we have missed it, it will be wrapped around the trunk of a tree and does not extend out to where you will be picking the apples. If you don't climb, you shouldn't have much to worry about. Always remember the golden rule: Leaves of three, Let it be.

Do your festivals run if it is raining?

No. Please call ahead (926-3721) to make sure the festival is a go before packing up the car.

What hours and dates are you open?

The Farm Market is open year round from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

We lost our beloved plush Duckie while at the farm today. Do you have a Lost and Found?

How sad! Yes, of course. Call the Market (926-3721) or stop by to see if we've found it.

We have a non-profit and would like to ask for a donation of apples. Do you do this sort of thing?

Of course we do. Please contact us to learn more.

What methods of payment do you accept?

In the Farm Market we accept cash, check, Visa, and Mastercard. At all other areas of the farm - including petting zoo, hayride station, festival booths, and PYO fruits in the fields - you must pay with cash.

Do you allow hunting on your land?

Hunting is by permission only and occurs during designated seasons and hours. Each year we administer hunting licenses to control animal populations and protect our trees. These licenses are few in number and the families who receive them rely on them to feed themselves through the winter. If you would like to be put on the waiting list for a hunting license on our land, please call the farm (926-3721).

Do you ship your apples?

Yes – everywhere in the world! There's nothing like a taste of New England while you're basking in the Florida sun. Please see our Gift Pack page for more specific information.

Do you sell cider donuts every day or just on weekends?

Each morning, every day of the week, we set out hot fresh cider donuts in our Farm Market. They do run out though, so come early or order them ahead of time and we're happy to set aside some treats for you!

Do I need to pay for parking or admission?

There is no entrance, parking or admission fee EVER! During our harvest festival weekends in September and October we also offer free live bluegrass from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Do you offer tractor rides to the orchards?

During the weekends in September and October we offer free tractor rides to and from the orchards.