Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Covid-19 news
As of Sept. 20, there were 3,769 active infections of Covid-19 in New Hampshire and 139 current hospitalizations. All 10 counties still showed substantial community transmission levels.
During a Sept. 15 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire has averaged more than 400 new infections of the virus per day over the previous seven-day period, while hospitalizations and deaths have also continued to creep up in recent weeks. “The vast majority of these infections … are occurring in people who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated,” he said. “In fact, since the end of January when we started tracking vaccine-breakthrough infections, only about 3 percent of the infections that we’ve identified have been in people who are fully vaccinated. … Low vaccination is contributing to continued spread of Covid-19 in our communities.”
State Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette also provided an update on state officials’ findings and lessons learned from their Aug. 30 trip to Kentucky, one of the hardest-hit states in the country by the pandemic. “One of the things that was really noteworthy was that … their surge was largely due to outbreaks in the rural areas that had low vaccination rates, and their small rural hospitals couldn’t manage that load so they would transfer their patients into the city centers,” she said. “So what we did … is we very, very clearly did a strategy to target all of our communities with a vaccination rate of under 50 percent. … So what you’re going to see is mobile clinics and vaccine vans that are going out working with Town Hall officials, local fire and EMS, and trying to raise the vaccination rates in those towns and cities.” Shibinette also pointed out that ongoing staffing challenges in Kentucky’s health care system have mirrored those in New Hampshire’s. To combat this, Gov. Chris Sununu announced a few solutions, including continuing to issue temporary licenses for 120 days to out-of-state health care workers with licenses in other states; issuing student nursing licenses to New Hampshire students in their last year of their RN or LPN programs; and reissuing licenses to retired or inactive health care professionals, which would be valid through Jan. 31, 2022. “We’re going to keep doing whatever we can … but right now, expanding and maintaining a healthy and vibrant health care workforce is one of the top priorities in the state, without a doubt,” he said.
Pfizer and BioNTech announced “positive, topline results” for its vaccine trials in children ages 5 to 11, according to a Sept. 20 press release, and plans to share its findings with the FDA “as soon as possible” to obtain authorization. “Since July, pediatric cases of Covid-19 have risen by about 240 percent in the U.S., underscoring the public health need for vaccination,” Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Albert Bourla said in a statement. According to the release, trial results for children under the age of 5 are expected as soon as the fourth quarter of this year.
Fighting violent crime
Federal, state and local agencies are stepping up efforts to fight violent crime in Manchester, and they want the public to stay informed about what they’re doing. After a scheduled press conference to address these efforts was canceled last week, a press release was issued instead to provide an update to the community. According to the release, Manchester started using the CompStat 360 program earlier this year, a national initiative that focuses on reducing violent crime and addressing public safety issues. As part of the program, Manchester police have held community meetings and created a community-centered Problem Solving Team that includes law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, community leaders, public health officials, public works personnel and community organizations. The purpose of the team is to discuss and develop responses, including non-law enforcement responses, to these issues, according to the release. In addition, Manchester police, New Hampshire State Police and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have increased officer presence and community engagement in the neighborhoods that need it most, conducting more than 4,000 directed patrols. “For most residents of Manchester, these efforts should be a message of hope for the future,” Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley said in the release. “But for those who choose to pursue a path of violence, I have a different message. We will not tolerate violent crime in our community. We will investigate you. We will prosecute you. And you will go to federal prison.” Partners in these initiatives will continue to update the community about their ongoing efforts, the release said.
ATC options
The New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program announced last week that New Hampshire-registered patients can now make purchases at any alternative treatment center in the state. Previously, patients were restricted to purchasing from a single ATC, according to a press release, and this change results from the passage of SB 162 earlier this year. “Patients have been requesting this reform for many years, and it’s great to see that it is finally becoming a reality,” Matt Simon, Director of Public and Government Relations for Prime Alternative Treatment Centers of NH, said in the release. “Allowing more options for patients can only be a good thing as the program continues to grow and mature.”
StubHub settles
Last week New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced a settlement with StubHub, one of the biggest ticket reselling companies in the country. New Hampshire, along with nine other states and Washington, D.C., has resolved a complaint with the company regarding its refusal to pay refunds to consumers for concerts, sports events and other events that were canceled as a result of the pandemic. According to a press release under its “FanProtect Guarantee,” StubHub offered consumers full refunds of the purchase price and fees they paid for tickets if their events were canceled, but in March 2020, after the entertainment industry shut down, it stopped honoring its refund guarantee and instead told customers that they would receive account credits equal to 120 percent of their purchases to be used for future events. As part of the settlement, StubHub has reversed its decision and notified its customers that if they purchased tickets prior to March 25, 2020, and their events were canceled, they would receive full refunds unless they elected to retain their account credits. This includes 2,175 consumers residing in New Hampshire or purchasing tickets for an event in New Hampshire, according to the release.
The New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton will hold an outdoor craft fair on Saturday, Sept. 25, according to a press release. There will be more than 80 vendors, a raffle and a white elephant table. The craft fair supports the NHVH Resident Benefit Fund.
“Stuff-A-Cruiser” with non-perishable food donations at two locations in Concord as the New Hampshire Food Bank and the Concord Police Department team up for Hunger Action Month in New Hampshire. According to a press release, there will be a police cruiser at Shaw’s on Fort Eddy Road on Friday, Sept. 24, and one at Hannaford on Fort Eddy Road on Saturday, Sept. 25, with donations being accepted both days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a food collection box at the Concord Police Department on Green Street.
Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 20 for the city’s planned solar array at the former landfill on Dunbarton Road. According to a press release, the more than 8,000 panels will supply approximately 3.8 million kilowatt hours of clean energy to the power grid on an annual basis once it’s completed.
Clarity Community Connections in Londonderry is hosting its first annual fundraiser car show on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Matthew Thornton Elementary School (275 Mammoth Road, Londonderry). There will be cars, food trucks, local artisans, a bake sale, kids’ activities, vendors, raffles and more. The cost is $3 per person or $10 for a family bundle, and veterans get in free. All proceeds benefit Clarity Community Connections. Find the event on Facebook.
Head to a local farm or fair to get your fill of New Hampshire agriculture at its best, from corn mazes and pick-your-own apples at the farm to piglets and horse pulls at the Rochester and Deerfield fairs.
Also on the cover, follow the Great New Hampshire Autumn Tour with the Hippo’s exclusive pull-out map, p. 26 & 27. And Glendi returns to Manchester with Greek eats for all, p. 28.
As much as the end of summer means the disappearance of long days and warm weather, it also means it’s the start of the baking season. Yes, I still enjoy cookies, homemade bread and more during the summer, but it’s so much nicer to have a toasty kitchen when it’s cooler outside.
Let’s kick off fall baking with a multi-purpose recipe: sweet potato biscuits. Not only is this a fairly simple recipe to use, these biscuits work well at various times of day. Lazing around the house on a weekend morning? These biscuits make a great part of an indulgent brunch. Want to serve warm bread with soup or stew? This is the recipe you need.
These biscuits are pretty easy to make, especially if you already have cooked sweet potato ready. Please note that while you need to mash the sweet potato, a few small lumps are fine. In fact, they add a nice burst of flavor and a little texture to the final product.
Welcome back, baking season!
Michele Pesula Kuegler has been thinking about food her entire life. Since 2007, the New Hampshire native has been sharing these food thoughts and recipes at her blog, Think Tasty. Visit thinktasty.com to find more of her recipes.
Sweet potato biscuits Makes 10
1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato 3/4 cup buttermilk 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together the sweet potato and 1/4 cup milk. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter to the flour mixture, and blend with a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingers until the butter is the size of peas. Add the sweet potato mixture, folding to combine. Add the remaining milk a little at a time until the dough is combined but not moist. (You may not need to use all of the milk.) Sprinkle a work surface with flour. Place the dough on the lightly floured work surface. Using floured hands, pat it into a rectangle about 3/4″ thick. Fold the dough into thirds (like you’re folding a letter); turn the dough 90 degrees and fold it in thirds again. Sprinkle a little flour over the dough, and roll with a floured rolling pin until the dough is a 3/4″ thick rectangle again. Cut into 10 to 12 rectangles. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, and bake until light golden brown and firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.
*Buttermilk can be replaced with a combination of 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and enough milk to equal 3/4 cup. Allow to stand at room temperature for a couple minutes before using in the recipe.
Photo: Sweet potato biscuits. Photo by Michele Pesula Kuegler.
Get in the harvest season spirit with some pig racing and corn mazes
It’s a farm’s time to shine.
Here in the thick of the late summer early fall harvest season, farms are getting a chance to show off their hard work — from displaying animals at upcoming fairs to welcoming guests for some agritainment.
Hence that cover pig. Pig-related events feature on the schedule of both the upcoming Granite State Fair and the Deerfield Fair. In addition to the pig barn and some pig racing on the schedule, you can see other animals in the barnyard babies, petting zoo and cattle barn at the Granite State Fair, which kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 16. Starting Sept. 30, you can see the horses, alpacas, sheep, goats and more at the Deerfield Fair.
There are also good reasons to go visit a local farm or orchard. Local corn mazes have opened their attractions, offering a chance to spend some time in their corn fields. Apple picking season has started and growers are reporting that it’s been a good year for apples.
Feeling in the mood for some farm fun? Here are a few places to go.
Farmers at the fair
Animals are the highlight of New Hampshire’s agricultural fairs
By Angie Sykeny
From live music and amusement rides to demonstrations and delicious food, New Hampshire state fairs offer all kinds of fun, but the heart of the fair remains the same year after year.
“Agriculture is the bedrock of what fairs represent,” said E.J. Dean, fair coordinator for the Granite State Fair in Rochester. “Farmers wanting to showcase all of their hard work is how the fairs were born.”
“The largest percentage of time that a patron spends at any fairground is looking through the barns,” co-coordinator Mark Perry added. “At the end of that day, that’s why people come.”
For local farmers, the fair is a chance to engage with the public, spread the word about their farms and promote their products — like a farmers market, Dean said, but on a larger scale.
“The farmers are proud,” he said. “They love talking with people and showing off what they do.”
For fairgoers, the fair is a place to learn about agriculture in the state and see up-close how a cow is milked, how a sheep is sheared, how butter is made and more.
“When you hear that there’s 21 billion gallons of milk produced in the United States each year, it’s hard to quantify that number,” Dean said. “[The fair] sheds some light on the [agriculture] industry and puts all of the things that we take for granted in perspective.”
Putting a face to the name behind where their food comes from can encourage people to buy more local food and products, Perry said.
“People see and hear things [about food] in the news, and they want to know what is true,” he said. “Who better to ask than the farmer who produces the food?”
Another goal of the fair, Perry said, is to expand agriculture in the state by inspiring people with homesteads to take up farming, even if only on a small scale. Just half an acre is enough for a person to raise animals such as rabbits, chickens or goats, he said.
“As the number of full-time farmers decreases, there’s a need that’s being filled by part-time farmers,” he said. “We want to help champion those part-time farmers.”
But educating the public about agriculture isn’t the only mission of the fair, Perry said; making the experience fun and memorable is equally important, especially for children and families, and for people living in urban areas who don’t have many opportunities to visit farms or see live animals.
“When a kid gets to reach out and touch a calf or see a cow being milked for the first time, that’s a powerful thing,” Perry said. “There’s magic in that moment.”
Granite State Fair
Daily festivities include a cattle barn, pig barn, barnyard babies, exhibitions and displays, chickery, a petting zoo and live judging in the exhibition hall. Helicopter rides will be offered Friday through Sunday. Daily entertainment will include racing pigs, Circus Hollywood ($15 for a ringside box for up to four people) and a variety of live music. Recycled Percussion will perform on Friday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. (Tickets are $20). The horse pulling competition will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. A mechanical bull riding competition will be held on both Thursdays, a cornhole tournament on both Fridays, and a demolition derby on both Sundays. When: Thursday through Sunday, from Sept. 16 through Sept. 19, and Sept. 23 through Sept. 26. On Thursday and Friday, both the main fair and midway open at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the main fair opens at 10 a.m., and the midway opens at noon. Where: 72 Lafayette St., Rochester Tickets: $10 per person, free for children age 8 and under. Plus $7 for parking. Wristbands are available for $25 on Thursday from 4 p.m. to close, Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., and, on the final Sunday, from 5 p.m. to close. More info: granitestatefair.com
Deerfield Fair
Daily festivities include agricultural shows like a horse pull, pig scramble, cattle pull and more, as well as agricultural demonstrations, exhibits and competitions; tractor pulls and demonstrations; children’s shows and activities; magic shows; a variety of live music on multiple stages and strolling performers. Special events include a woodsman contest on Thursday at 10 a.m., a pumpkin weigh-off on Thursday at 6 p.m., Granite State Disc Dogs on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m., a truck pull on Saturday at 5 p.m., and a women’s frypan toss on Sunday at 4 p.m. Where: 34 Stage Road, Deerfield When: Thursday, Sept. 30, through Sunday, Oct. 3. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 pm., Thursday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Sunday. Tickets: $12 for adults ($10 if purchased online before Sept. 27), free for kids age 12 and under and for active military and veterans. $9 for seniors age 65 and older on Thursday and Friday at the gate only. Premium parking is available for $10. Midway wristbands are available for $30 on Friday (valid through 6 p.m.) and for $35 on Sunday (valid through closing). More info: deerfieldfair.com
Mazes of maize
Lose yourself in a corn maze this fall
By Matt Ingersoll
Traversing through a corn maze is a uniquely fall activity at the farm — most of them are open to the public from early to mid-September through about Halloween. From family-friendly mazes to spookier nighttime outings, there are all kinds of unique features and experiences you can discover as you make your way through the cornfields trying to get out.
Corn maze at Sherman Farm. Courtesy photo.
At Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton, there are two different 4-acre corn mazes with their own distinct themes that are never repeated after each year. Co-owner Holly Kimball, who was an elementary school teacher for more than 20 years, said she has a lot of fun designing the mazes and implementing various educational aspects into each theme.
“It’s a great outdoor activity that appeals to all ages,” Kimball said of the mazes. “This is our 24th year doing the mazes … and [they have] become a fall tradition for many people. … We get field trips from elementary school students right up through high school, [and] it can be a fun date activity or an outing for workplace team building.”
This year happens to be the 250th anniversary of the nine-generation Beech Hill Farm, a milestone Kimball has integrated into one of the corn mazes. People are given a crossword puzzle with different clues to the answers they must search through the maze to find. Each clue has to do with a different fact about farming history.
The other corn maze activity at Beech Hill Farm is what Kimball calls a “Clue-Dunnit,” featuring a corn maze mystery twist on the popular board game. Attendees are tasked with finding the “suspect” who stole the weather vane off the top of the farm’s barn.
“It’s a cornfield scavenger hunt, where you go through with a checklist and find the ‘suspects,’ which are all farm animals,” she said. “They are all signs people have to find in the maze.”
Animals are also regularly used corn maze themes at Coppal House Farm in Lee. Owner John Hutton said they will usually focus on a different animal or bird each year that you’re likely to find in your backyard. As you make your way deeper into the maze, you’ll come across different facts about that animal — this year, he said, it’s all about red foxes.
“The different facts you find … help you navigate your way through the maze,” Hutton said, “so on top of learning about the fox, it’s a scavenger hunt. … It’s something fun that the whole family can do together, and it’s very interactive with no electronics involved.”
In Milford, Trombly Gardens has a corn maze that’s open to the public from dawn to dusk, with four wooden farm animals each maze-goer is challenged to find. According to business manager Alicia Kurlander, a Halloween-themed “haunted” corn maze with actors is currently in the works for each weekend throughout the month of October.
Where to find a local corn maze
Check out this list of local farms and orchards with corn mazes to discover this fall. Many of them feature their own unique themes, often with clues you must find to navigate your way out.
Applecrest Farm Orchards 133 Exeter Road, Hampton Falls, 926-3721, applecrest.com Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $7 per person and free for ages 5 and under This 8-acre corn field features a maze of twists and turns that typically remains open through Halloween or early November depending on the weather conditions, according to Applecrest Farm Orchards owner Todd Wagner. Visitors who want to traverse it during the week are encouraged to check in at the farm market, as the maze entrance is only staffed on the weekends.
Beans & Greens Farm 245 Intervale Road, Gilford, 293-2853, beansandgreensfarm.com Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; a night maze is offered Thursday through Saturday, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with a final sweep of the maze at 10 p.m. Cost: $14 for adults and $10 for kids; the cost for the night maze ranges from $18 to $22 (tentative) According to Cheyenne Patterson of the farm’s management team, the corn maze will open for the season on Sept. 17 and will conclude with a special Halloween-themed maze on Oct. 31.
Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn 107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, 223-0828, beechhillfarm.com Hours: Daily, noon to dusk Cost: $6 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn has two 4-acre corn mazes, and one applied rate gives you access to both. Co-owner Holly Kimball said the farm has been offering them for more than two decades, with a different theme each year that has never been repeated. This year’s mazes include a cornfield-sized “crossword puzzle” in celebration of the farm’s 250th anniversary in 2021, as well as a “Clue-Dunnit” corn maze inspired by the popular board game.
Brookdale Fruit Farm 41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com Hours: Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Cost: $3 per person The corn maze, set to open soon, is among several of the family-friendly activities that will be available at Brookdale Fruit Farm this fall, along with hayrides and apple picking.
Coppal House Farm 118 N. River Road, Lee, 659-3572, nhcornmaze.com Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4:30 p.m.). Columbus Day hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for students, seniors and active military service members, and free for kids ages 5 and under Coppal House Farm features two corn mazes, with a different theme every year centered around a bird or animal you might see in your backyard. This year the theme is red foxes — maze attendees will learn various facts about the red fox that help them navigate their way out of the maze. Coppal House Farm co-owner John Hutton said the mazes are typically open through the last weekend of October, after which the corn is harvested for grain. There are also three upcoming nighttime maze dates that are open to the public, scheduled for Sept. 18, Oct. 9 and Oct. 23 (general admission is $12 per person; online ticketing only). Bring your own flashlight.
Elwood Orchards 54 Elwood Road, Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entrance is at 5 p.m.) Cost: $10 per person and free for kids ages 5 and under The 15-acre corn maze at this family-owned and -operated farm and orchard is open now through the first weekend of November, owner Wayne Elwood said. Throughout the month of October, there is also a nighttime maze on Fridays and Saturdays that runs until 10 p.m. (last entrance is at 9 p.m.). Bring your own flashlight.
Emery Farm 147 Piscataqua Road, Durham, 742-8495, emeryfarm.com Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 2 and under This corn maze, featuring an educational pollinator theme, will be open daily through Oct. 31. Tickets can be purchased inside the farm’s market and cafe.
J & F Farms 124 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, jandffarmsnh.com Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $8 per person One of several available family-friendly activities, the corn maze at this longtime family-run farm is open to the public now through the end of October.
Lavoie’s Farm 172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Free At the family-owned and -operated Lavoie’s Farm, visitors can traverse the 3-acre corn maze with a pick-your-own apple or pumpkin purchase.
Riverview Farm 141 River Road, Plainfield, 298-8519, riverviewnh.com Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 4 and under Artist and illustrator Emily Zea comes up with all kinds of unique themes each year for Riverview Farm’s corn maze. The theme of this year’s 3-acre maze is Ghosts and Monsters of New England.
Scamman Farm 69 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 686-1258, scammanfarm.com Hours: Monday, and Wednesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance is at 4:30 p.m.) Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5 to 12 and for seniors and active military service members, and free for kids ages 4 and under with a paid adult At more than 6 acres, Scamman’s Farm’s corn maze features a different theme every year. This year’s theme is “Fantasy Land.”
Sherman Farm 2679 E. Conway Road, Center Conway, 939-2412, shermanfarmnh.com Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Varies from $12 to $15 per person, depending on the day, and free for kids ages 2 and under Known simply as “The Maize,” this year’s 12-acre corn maze was designed with help from students at Pine Street Elementary School in Center Conway. It’s due to open for the season on Sept. 18 and will welcome visitors every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 24.
Trombly Gardens 150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under Four wooden animals hidden throughout this corn maze for attendees to attempt to find. Trombly Gardens business manager Alicia Kurlander said a Halloween-themed haunted nighttime maze with actors who will try to jump out and scare you is also being planned for each weekend throughout the month of October. You can receive a discount to enter the corn maze if you bring a non-perishable canned food item to donate to the local food bank.
Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard 66 Mason Road, Greenville, 878-2101, find them on Facebook @washburnswindyhill Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $5 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under The 5-acre corn maze at Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard is open through the end of October, according to owner Timothy Anderson. A nighttime maze will also be hosted from Friday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 31, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each night.
Macs and Honeycrisps
Where to load up on apples
By Amy Diaz
The McIntoshes are ready.
Over Labor Day weekend, Apple Hill Farm in Concord kicked off its season of pick-your-own with its trees heavy with McIntoshes. The rain, rough on ground crops, has been good for apples, helping them to get big and juicy, said Diane Souther, owner at Apple Hill.
“The apples are plentiful,” Souther said on Sept. 7, when she expected Cortlands to be ready for picking in a few days and then Macouns soon after that, followed by Empires, with other varieties expected more toward the third and fourth weeks of September. Souther’s farm has more than 60 varieties of apples, some in PYO and some that the farm picks, some of them for eating and baking and some for hard cider.
Leigh Hardy, pick-your-own manager at Brookdale Fruit Farm, agreed that this year’s crop is large — big apples and lots of them. Brookdale has 32 varieties for pick your own as well as other varieties available in the farm stand. On Sept. 7 she said Jonamacs, Galas, McIntoshes and Honeycrisps were ready, with Cortlands and Empires coming soon.
“They’re coming in a bit earlier,” Hardy said, estimating that crops were available about 10 days or so earlier.
While some varieties like the McIntoshes and Galas will go all season long some apples have shorter seasons of three or so weeks when they are available, so Souther recommends that pickers be flexible if their favorite variety isn’t available at the moment and try something new. She recommends, at pick your own or at farm stands and farmers markets, asking farmers about varieties you may not have seen in decades past, such as Ambrosia, a yellowish apple with a red tinge that is sweeter and can last a while in the refrigerator.
Hardy said some people are becoming “apple connoisseurs” and interested in new varieties as well as some of the older New England varieties, such as the Baldwin apple, which is harder and stores well but has a great flavor when you cook with it, she said. Empire (a cross between a Red Delicious and a McIntosh) has a good flavor as does Spencer (a cross between a Golden Delicious and a McIntosh).
“Those are really good,” Hardy said.
Others to look for later in September are the Snow Sweet (a mild apple that doesn’t turn brown when you cut it), a Ruby Mac (a McIntosh variety that is sold red and a little bit tarter) and some new Honeycrisp varieties that are available later, like Pink Luster, Firecracker and Crimson Crisp, Hardy said.
At Brookdale they offer both a paper map and a version you can get on your smartphone via a QR code that will help direct you toward trees that are ready for picking and help you find the varieties you’re interested in.
For apples you don’t eat right away, Souther and Hardy recommend putting them in a refrigerator at as close to 33 degrees as possible for future eating. Sweeter apples especially need refrigeration, Hardy said, and if you store apples in a cool basement or garage, don’t leave them directly on cement, where moisture will get into the apple and speed rot; elevate them a little. Souther also suggested that apples you don’t eat now can go toward a future pie: Make a pie filling and freeze to use later in the winter when you want a fresh taste of fall.
Apple Grower of the Year
Brookdale Fruit Farm, which has been operated for 174 years by seven generations of the same family, received special recognition this year: Chip Hardy and sons Trevor Hardy and Tyler Hardy were named 2021 Apple Growers of the Year by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines, according to a story on GrowingProduce.com. (Tyler Hardy, who died in 2019, was called “one of New Hampshire’s up-and-coming agricultural stars” in the story.) The farm is only the second farm in New Hampshire to receive the award, the website said.
Where to get your apples
Here are a few of the local apple orchards offering pick-your-own. On the day you plan to head out, call ahead to check that the varieties you’re interested in are available. Most of these farms also sell apples at their farm stands (along with other goodies) if you’d rather pick up than pick your own, and many of the websites (which, along with the farms’ and orchards’ social media, is where most of the pricing and hours listed here come from) list varieties available at the orchard (including, in some cases, what’s currently available for picking). Is your favorite pick-your-own farm not on this list? Let us know about it at food@hippopress.com.
Apple Annie 66 Rowell Road East in Brentwood; 778-3127, appleannienh.org Hours open for PYO: Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Email for reserving group times Monday through Wednesday) Cost: Bags priced at $1.75 per pound
Applecrest Farm Orchards 133 Exeter Road (Route 88) in Hampton Falls; 926-3721, applecrest.com Hours open for PYO: daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $15 for half a peck, $30 for a peck, $40 for half a bushel Also: In September, PYO raspberries and peaches; into October, pumpkins and gourds. On weekends look for harvest festivals, which run Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can feature live music, tractor rides, eats for sale and more.
Apple Hill Farm 580 Mountain Road (Route 132) in Concord; 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com Hours open for PYO: daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: Peck is $15, half bushel is $25. Also: As of Sept. 3 Apple Hill still had PYO seedless grapes.
Appleview Orchard 1266 Upper City Road in Pittsfield; 435-3553, applevieworchard.com Hours open for PYO: daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (earlier as the sun sets earlier) Cost: Call for pricing. Also: Free hayrides on weekends, weather permitting.
Brookdale Fruit Farm 41 Broad St. in Hollis; 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (call for information on group outings on Mondays and Tuesdays) Cost: $35 for half a bushel or $1.75 per pound. Also: PYO pumpkins later in the season, according to the farm’s website. On weekends, check out the corn maze and hayrides.
Carter Hill Orchard 73 Carter Hill Road in Concord; 225-2625, carterhillapples.com Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Currier Orchards 9 Peaslee Road in Merrimack; 881-8864, find them on Facebook @currierorchards Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $15 for a 10-pound bag; $30 for a 20-pound bag. Also: The store is open until 6 p.m.
DeMeritt Hill Farm 20 Orchard Way, Lee; 868-2111, demeritthillfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m; Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Purchase one peck bag to pick: $18 for a peck bag. Also: PYO pumpkins. Visit farm animals and on weekends take a hayride ($2 per person), weather permitting. The farm also has several upcoming events including a Harvest Weekend (Sept. 25 and Sept. 26) and a Pumpkinfest (Oct. 2 and Oct. 3) and Haunted Overlook, a haunted attraction that opens Oct. 8.
Elwood Orchards 54 Elwood Road in Londonderry; 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com Hours open for PYO: Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Call for pricing. Also: Elwood will offer pick your own pumpkins and runs a corn maze daily (with nighttime corn mazes on Fridays and Saturdays in October).
Gould Hill Farm 656 Gould Hill Road in Contoocook, 746- 3811, gouldhillfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (plus Monday, Oct. 11) Cost: Quarter peck (which is about two or three pounds depending on the apple) is $7, half peck is $12, peck is $18, half bushel is $28. Also: Gould Hill operates Contoocook Cider Co., which has a tasting room open weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for flights, tastings and light food (such as cheese plates) and live music from 1 to 4 p.m., according to the website. Cider doughnuts on weekends.
Hackleboro Orchards 61 Orchard Road in Canterbury; 783-4248, on Facebook Hours open for PYO: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: By the page $6 half peck, $10 peck and $20 a half bushel Also: Every weekend they offer burgers, hot dogs, cider doughnuts and ice cream.
Hazelton Orchards 280 Derry Road in Chester; 493-4804, find them on Facebook @hazeltonorchardschesternh Hours open for PYO: Daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Call for pricing.
Lavoie’s Farm 172 Nartoff Road in Hollis; 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: $1.99 per pound. Also: PYO pumpkins. Look for hay rides on weekends and a corn maze open whenever the farm is open.
Lull Farm 65 Broad St. in Hollis; 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com Hours open for PYO: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Peck for $15, and half bushel for $30. Also: Food on weekends and The Daily Haul fish market Saturdays (preorder at thedailyhaul.com).
Mack’s Apples 230 Mammoth Road in Londonderry; 432- 3456, macksapples.com Hours open for PYO: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Purchase bags for picking as you enter the orchard. Also: PYO peaches and pumpkins.
McLeod Bros. Orchards 735 N. River Road in Milford; 673-3544, mcleodorchards.com Hours open for PYO: Monday through Friday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (also 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Columbus Day) Cost: Buy bags or baskets before picking — $16 for peck bag, $27 for a half bushel bag; $24 for a peck basket, $35 for a half bushel basket. Also: For groups larger than 7 people, make a reservation online.
Meadow Ledge Farm 612 Route 129 in Loudon; 798-5860, meadowledgefarm.com Hours open for PYO: Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also: Look for the farm’s Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend, with games for the kids, music and entertainment. After Thanksgiving they sell Christmas trees and wreaths among other items.
Sullivan Farm 70 Coburn Ave. in Nashua; 595-4560, find them on Facebook Hours open for PYO: Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard 66 Mason Road in Greenville; 878-2101 Hours open for PYO: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $12 for a peck, $24 for a half bushel. Purchase apple bags inside the farm stand or reusable baskets. Also: PYO pumpkins. The orchard also has a corn maze and free hayrides on weekends.
Featured photo: Corn maze at Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn in Hopkinton. Courtesy photo.
Barring Covid-cancellations, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats will have their final regular season run of home games at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive in downtown Manchester; nhfishercats.com) against the Harrisburg Senators. As of Sept. 13, the Sept. 14 game was canceled but the Fisher Cats are scheduled to play nightly at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, through Saturday, Sept. 18, and then a 1:35 p.m. game on Sunday, Sept. 19. Tonight’s game features the first of two winter hat giveaways (also at Sunday’s game). Friday’s and Saturday’s games will feature post-game fireworks.
Friday, Sept. 17
See TLC on their Crazy Sexy Cool Tour 2021 with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (72 Meadowbrook Lane in Gilford; 293-4700, banknhpavilion.com). Tickets start at $18.75 on the lawn.
Saturday, Sept. 18
After sitting out 2020, GraniteCon, the Granite State Comicon 2021, returns today and tomorrow (Sunday, Sept. 19) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (at 700 Elm St.). Admission costs $25 on Saturday, $20 on Sunday or $40 for a weekend pass. Meet comic book creators and entertainment guests, take part in the costume contest, check out the vendors and more. See last week’s issue of the Hippo (find the e-edition on hippopress.com) for our story about the event on page 24 and go to granitecon.com to see an event program.
Saturday, Sept. 18
Today is the second to last Concord Arts Market of the season. It will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rollins Park, 33 Bow St. in Concord. See concordartsmarket.net for a list of vendors.
Sunday, Sept. 19
It’s a big weekend for food festivals: Glendi in Manchester, the Concord Multicultural Festival, the Egyptian Food Festival in Nashua. Find details about all of those events on page 28. Here’s another to add to the schedule: Oysterfest, held today from noon to 5 p.m. at Stone Church (5 Granite St. in Newmarket; stonechurchrocks.com). The event will feature craft beer offerings, as well as oysters from three local oyster farms and live music.
Tuesday, Sept. 21
Check out a couple of cult films this week at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org). Hedwig and the Angry Inch (R, 2001) screens tonight at 7 p.m. John Water’s Serial Mom(R, 1994) screens tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets to either show cost $12 each, with a portion of the proceeds going to Motley Mutts Rescue, according to the website.
Save the Date! Saturday, Oct. 23
Tickets go on sale this weekend for the New Hampshire Poutinefest Spooktacular, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten (221 DW Highway in Merrimack). Enjoy a variety of competing poutine dishes as well as craft beer, games, activities for kids and more. Tickets go on sale Saturday, Sept. 18, and cost $39.99 for general admission (gates at the event open at 12:45 p.m.), $49.99 for VIP admission (which includes a 11:30 a.m. entry time), $14.99 for kids age 6 to 12 with sampling and free for kids who aren’t sampling or are under 6. See nhpoutinefestspooktacular.eventbrite.com.
Featured photo: The Massachusetts Ghostbusters are heading to Granite State Comicon. Courtesy photo.
A 10-year-old Manchester resident has been named a 2021 International Young Eco-Hero, one of 25 from around the world honored by international nonprofit Action for Nature for the steps they’re taking to solve environmental issues. According to a press release, Jack Dalton received a Notable Mention in the 8- to 14-year-old category for his project, Kid Conservationist, which aims to get orangutans off the endangered species list. Jack’s efforts include raising awareness about palm oil and the destruction of orangutan habitats, as well as raising funds for orangutan rehabilitation and rainforest restoration.
Score: +1
Comment: For his project, Jack contacts corporations to advocate for reduced use of palm oil, and he educates the public through his YouTube channel and through presentations to schools, zoos and museums across the globe, the release said.
First batch of West Nile-infected mosquitoes
A batch of mosquitoes collected Aug. 30 in Manchester tested positive for West Nile virus, the first in the state this year, according to a press release sent last week from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. This is not unusual, the release said, as some activity is expected each season. The department will continue testing mosquitoes until after the first frost or freeze of the season.
Score: -2 (-1 for West Nile and -1 for making us think about the first freeze)
Comment: At least there’s one good thing about the colder weather that’s on its way.
Drunk drivers on NH roads
From Aug. 18 through Sept. 6, local and state police arrested 65 people and charged them with driving while intoxicated. According to a press release, the enhanced efforts were part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over initiative, which targeted impaired drivers through education and enforcement. Police made nearly 8,000 motor vehicle stops, which resulted in the 65 DWI arrests, plus more than 3,000 citations and more than 4,750 warnings, the release said.
Score: -1
Comment:“That’s sixty-five people that could have seriously injured or killed themselves or someone else all because of the bad decision to get behind the wheel while impaired,” New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn said in the release. “The right decision is to find alternative transportation and never drive impaired.”
Retiring farmers concerned for the future
A new study from Land For Good, a New Hampshire-based organization that addresses farm access, tenure and transfer, found that older farmers in New Hampshire are concerned about retirement and need help navigating the process of farm business succession. According to a press release, farmers 65 and older operate 30 percent of the state’s farms, managing 158,000 acres and owning a collective $628 million in land and agricultural infrastructure. Farmers who responded to the survey said they worry about the future of their farms due to factors like complicated family dynamics and issues around financial security and farm viability, as well as a lack of young operators working alongside the seniors.
Score: -1
Comment: Land For Good is hosting a two-day Farm Succession Training for Legal & Financial Professionals on Sept. 21 and Sept. 23 via Zoom. The cost is $225, but according to the release cost should not be a barrier to attending, and there are discounts and scholarships available. Visit landforgood.org/professional-training.
QOL score: 87
Net change: -3
QOL this week: 84
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.
