There’s still plenty of time to enjoy fresh fruit and veggies in New Hampshire. Here are some top farm stands to get you started.
Summer is considered the best time to buy fruits and vegetables; they’re fresher, more abundant, and grown closer to home.
Throughout July and August, in-season fruits worth the drive to a local stand include cherries, berries, honeydew melons, cantaloupes, watermelon, peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, apricots, and grapes, to name a select few.
In terms of veggies, tomatoes are at their absolute best and sweetest, but other produce at its peak include:
- Zucchini and summer squash
- Okra
- Corn
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Eggplant
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
In New Hampshire, there’s no shortage of places to buy these delicious items to enjoy on their own or turn into an exciting meal or snack. Most of these stands are open on a consistent schedule, though heat and weather may impact when some are operational.
Let’s go over some beloved options from across the state to help you find a nearby place to get the best produce all summer long.
Peter’s Farm, Salem
Peter’s Farm, located on 3 Cross Street in Salem, often posts on its Facebook page to keep customers updated on what’s available at any given time. Some recent highlights include peas, cilantro, dill, kusa, shallots, and kale. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. or until Peter’s sells out of the produce it harvested.
Gardeners, don’t worry; Peter’s Farm sells flowers, too. Most hangers cost around $18.50, and six-inch pots are just $5. Google reviews often praise this location for its friendly and knowledgeable staff and consistently fresh produce.
Barker’s Farm, Stratham
Located on 216 Portsmouth Avenue, Barker’s Farm is a popular stand selling a variety of fruits, veggies, and cut flowers. A handy harvest schedule can be found here to keep track of what’s available at any given time.
Throughout July, the farm is harvesting beets, beans, carrots, cucumbers, corn, greens, melons, strawberries, and tomatoes, among a few others. August will see a similar harvest, but blueberries will also be ready for purchase, as will leeks, potatoes, and winter squash.
Barker’s is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note: The farm will occasionally close early due to excessive heat to protect its workers. Early closures are posted on its website, so double-check before you make the drive over.
Brookdale, Hollis
Brookdale Fruit Farm (41 Broad Street) has been operating since 1847, and this Hollis staple is a one-stop destination for produce—some of which you can pick yourself!—as well as ice cream, sweet treats, flowers, jams, books, kitchen and home goods, farm supplies, and much, much more.
The farm stand is open every day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. If you’d like to pick your own blueberries, red raspberries, cherries, and strawberries, the field entrance runs from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., with last admittance 30 minutes before closing. More information, including prices, can be found here.
Like Barker’s Farm, Brookdale also closes due to inclement weather and heat. Call 603-465-2240 if you have any questions about whether the farm stand will be open on the day you plan to stop by.
Depot Farm Stand, Merrimack
Depot Farm Stand is situated at 668 Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Similar to Brookdale, Depot has a gift shop where you can buy Stonewall Kitchen products and locally made goods, including New Hampshire honey and maple syrup, as well as produce.
Garlic scrapes, sugar snap peas, and broccoli were recently highlighted harvests on Facebook. Customer reviews note the giant selection of fruits, veggies, and flowers sold here, as well as the “helpful” and “pleasant” staff.
Johnson Golden Harvest, Hooksett
Hooksett’s Johnson Golden Harvest is located at 412 West River Road, Route 3A, Exit 11 off of I-93. Both butter and sugar corn are sold at Johnson’s over the summer, as are apples, avocados, kale, yellow, wax, and green beans, nectarines, peaches, sugar snap and English peas, and a variety of squash.
The family-owned farm market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Quality meats, farm fresh eggs, freshly baked bread, and local cheeses are also sold here.
Taking it one convenient step further, Johnson’s website lists several of its favorite recipes, in case you’re looking for a new way to incorporate the peppers, asparagus, and tomatoes you grab while you’re checking out the stand.
Emery Farm, Durham
Emery Farm in Durham has a long history in the Granite State. Established in 1660, Emery (147 Piscataqua Road) is “the oldest family farm in the country” and has belonged to the same family over the last 366 years. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. to sell fresh, seasonal fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Its Market & Cafe sells baked goods, coffee, beer, and an assortment of locally sourced products. Blueberry season officially kicks off on July 6, and you can pick your own at Emery’s fields for a family-friendly experience everyone is sure to enjoy.
And while it’s technically not related to summer fruits and vegetables, Emery does have a petting barn, which provides another bright spot of joy for visitors. Bunny Bunny, the resident bunny at Emery Farm, is a big fan of strawberries, in case you feel like sharing.
Monadnock Berries, Troy
What could be better, or fresher, than picking your own blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and currants? At Monadnock Berries, you can do just that throughout July and August. Found at 545 West Hill Road, Monadnock Berries provides a beautiful backdrop to an afternoon of summer fun. (Or, if you’re more inclined to buy fruits and veggies that have already been picked, there’s a farmstand at this location too).
From July 5 to July 24, it’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Then from July 25 through August 31, it’s open Sunday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Note: If you’re planning to go on Saturday, Monadnock Berries kindly requests that you arrive by 3:40 p.m. at the latest to ensure everything is closed on time for evening weddings.
Spring Ledge Farm, New London
Spring Ledge Farm (37 Main Street) is New London’s one stop shop for seasonal, high-quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Sweet corn is one of its main products as Spring Ledge has 12 acres dedicated solely to this produce. Strawberries are another point of pride at the farm with four sprawling acres set aside from the summer fruit.
While Spring Ledge’s “pick your own” strawberry season has come to a close, you can still find everything you need at its dedicated farmstand during the following hours of operation:
- Monday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Picnic Rock Farms, Meredith
Picnic Rock Farms, located at 85 Daniel Webster Hwy, is open Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It was formerly called Longridge Farm but has remained a family business dedicated to sell vegetables, fruits, baked goods, jellies, jams, and other assorted items. Established in 1801, it’s actually the first ever farm stand registered in New Hampshire, so you’ll get a little touch of history with your summer squashes and cantaloupes.
Sherman Farm, Center Conway
Located at 2679 East Conway Rd., Center Conway’s Sherman Farm has been family-owned and operated for over 60 years. Seasonal vegetables are sold through the end of November, making them a great place to buy fresh cucumbers, corn, okra, and watermelon. Sherman grows all of its produce on 60 acres of land for the full farm-to-table experience.
It’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s also a petting zoo you can visit to make the most of your outing if you’re looking for something fun for the kids to do before you go home and turn all your veggies into a summer stew.
