Explore Massachusetts Farms and Fresh Flavors

Focus on All Things New England! [New England Focus Logo]( [Explore Massachusetts Farms and Fresh Flavors]( Ice cream, maple syrup, oysters, and a rainbow of produce are among the ingredients for a locavore adventure for all ages. Sponsored by: [Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism]( [Img-Visit MA Logo]( Nicknamed the Bay State, Massachusetts has one of nature’s most awe-inspiring food sources, the Atlantic Ocean, right on its doorstep. But heading west from the coast into river valleys and hilltop villages reveals a centuries-old agricultural scene whose bounty is just as delicious and diverse. Dairy farms with herds of sleek Holstein and Jersey cattle dispense the creamiest cheese, milk, and ice cream. Orchards and other produce growers offer locavores the chance to stock up on apples, berries, and vegetables at peak freshness. [An apple tree in an orchard] Turning leaves aren’t the only showstoppers when fall comes to Massachusetts, as orchards filled with red and gold apples brighten the landscape. Photo Credit : Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Often owned by the same family for generations, many of these pastoral spots welcome visitors with farm markets, barnyard animals, kids’ entertainment, and guided tours. It’s an invitation for folks of all ages to have fun while learning about the benefits of sustainable agriculture and, of course, to feast on local food. Here’s just a sampling to whet any visitor’s appetite. Dairy Delights [Jersey cows at High Lawn Farm] At High Lawn Farm in Lee, visitors can see the herd of Jersey cows that provided the raw materials for their ice cream, as well as visit the milking barn and meet calves in the farm’s nursery. Photo Credit : Linda Campos Just a few years after establishing the Plymouth Colony in 1620, the Pilgrims brought dairy cows over from Europe, laying the groundwork for a vital part of Massachusetts’s agricultural scene. More than 100 dairy farms thrive in the Commonwealth today, with many selling their milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream directly to eager customers. In 2024, the state went all in on the sweetest of treats as it debuted the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, which highlights farms and scoop shops whose ice cream is made with milk, cream, or both from Massachusetts dairies. Ice cream lovers can single out a few favorites to try from the list of 100-plus locations, or plan a road-trip pilgrimage to fit in as many as they can. Either way, they’ll be satisfying their sweet tooth while supporting the hard-working farmers who provide all that fresh milk and cream, along with ingredients like strawberries, peaches, and raspberries. [Ice cream from Rota Spring Farm in Sterling] Enjoy a scoop or two in the sunshine at Rota Spring Farm in Sterling, which also has a farm store selling ice cream pies and cakes — plus fresh produce, bread, meat, and more — to take home. Photo Credit : Rota Spring Farm via Facebook Stops on the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail include Middleton’s [Richardson’s Farm](, a working dairy farm that dates back some 300 years, and [Smolak Farms]( in North Andover, an innovative agricultural tourism destination that offers an ice cream stand, bakery, and farmstand; a playground and farm animals for the kids; and a variety of special events. Sprawling [High Lawn Farm]( in the Berkshires village of Lee earns raves for classic flavors such as cookies & cream as well as seasonal specials like lemon poppy seed. At Sterling’s [Rota Spring Farm](, which promises “a herd of flavor in every scoop,” you can choose from more than 50 kinds of premium ice cream — perhaps the Red Raspberry Rage, studded with chocolate-covered raspberry truffles? From [Flayvors of Cook Farm]( in the Pioneer Valley to [Sundae School]( on Cape Cod, the list of great ice cream makers in Massachusetts is as varied as the landscapes they call home. [It’s all made possible in Massachusetts.]( Come visit us this summer, to see what all the fun is about. Plan your trip at visitma.com [Learn More]( SPONSORED [Cheeses from The Grey Barn on Martha’s Vineyard] Named one of America’s best cheesemakers by Food & Wine, The Grey Barn on Martha’s Vineyard uses certified organic milk from its own cows to create a lineup of award-winning cheeses. Photo Credit : Molly Glasgow If cheese is what you’re after, Massachusetts’s dairy farms have you covered there, too. The Commonwealth boasts an array of rich and complex artisanal cheeses, such as freshly smoked Gouda from [Smith’s Country Cheese]( in Winchendon, zingy blue cheese from [The Grey Barn]( on Martha’s Vineyard, and even “toma”-style cheese inspired by the flavor of the Italian Alps at [Cricket Creek Farm]( in Williamstown. These and many other cheese-centric dairies have retail outlets right on the farm — which means visitors might catch a glimpse of the grazing cows themselves while shopping for the tasty end results. Prime Pickings Side by side with Massachusetts dairy producers are hundreds of farms throughout the state that cultivate other kinds of bounty that spring from the earth. From sweet corn to tomatoes to apples and more, their wares are ripe for sampling at the Commonwealth’s 200-plus farmers markets — as well as, in many cases, at the farms themselves. Visiting an actual farm is a wonderful way, especially for kids, to see where and how food is raised (and maybe even visit with some adorable barn animals). These farms often have pick-your-own harvesting of fruit and other crops, or generously stocked farmstands and shops, or both. At the seventh-generation [Apex Orchards]( in Shelburne, apples and peaches are big draws, along with some of the area’s most beautiful views. [Russell Orchards]( offers fruit picking on its 120-acre property in Ipswich, as well as a bakery, winery, and animal barnyard. At South Natick’s [Lookout Farm](, which presents family entertainment and occasional concerts, an afternoon of picking fruit and navigating the corn maze might conclude with a glass of farm-crafted hard cider or beer. [A boy apple picking at Lookout Farm] One of the oldest working farms in the country, Lookout Farm in South Natick has been run by the Belkin family for the past two decades and has become a favorite U-pick spot for Boston families. Photo Credit : Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Other showcases of seasonal abundance include [Parlee Farms]( in Tyngsboro, where you can pick up some strawberry shortcake and blueberry doughnuts at the on-site Mary’s Country Kitchen; Nantucket’s [Bartlett’s Farm](, which gives guided PYO veggie and flower tours on its stunning island property; and [Cider Hill Farm]( in Amesbury, which grows more than 60 varieties of apples alongside other crops, crafts its own award-winning ciders, and runs everything largely on wind and solar energy. [Fruit & Veggies at Truro Educational Farmer's Market] A rainbow of summer flavor calls to food lovers at the Truro Educational Farmers Market, run by Sustainable CAPE (Center for Agricultural Preservation & Education). Photo Credit : © Sustainable CAPE 2024 At Massachusetts farmers’ markets, meanwhile, you can fill your bags with tasty produce as well as baked goods, gourmet snacks, and handcrafted gifts and artwork. The nonprofit [Mass Farmers Markets](, which runs five Boston-area markets, provides a handy [farmers’ markets map]( to guide local-food adventures. Seaside options include Cape Cod markets run by [Sustainable CAPE]( in Truro and Provincetown, the [Nantucket Farmers and Artisans Market](, and the North Shore’s [Newburyport Farmers’ Market](. Popular with students and university staff in the central “Five Colleges” area, the [Northampton Farmers’ Market]( goes beyond a plentiful offering of farm-grown foods to include perennials, houseplants, and bouquets. In western Massachusetts, the [Williamstown Farmers’ Market]( is strong on arts and crafts, and the nearby [Pittsfield Farmers’ Market]( is run by teens through Roots Rising, an organization focused on empowering young people and building community. [Coply Square Farmer's Market] A mix of modern and historic downtown buildings provides a striking backdrop for the Copley Square Farmers’ Market, one of five Boston-area markets run by Mass Farmers Markets. Photo Credit : Mark Fleming The Commonwealth’s bigger cities host some outstanding events, too, including Mass Farmers Markets’ new [Fish & Farm Market at Boston Fish Pier]( and bustling [Copley Square Farmers’ Market]( in Boston, and the [Farmers Market at Forest Park]( in Springfield. And if you happen to be at the [Boston Public Market]( on just the right day in August, you can watch as winners are announced during the always-popular [Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest](. Heritage Flavors Among the array of locally grown products you can find across Massachusetts, three uniquely regional foods stand out for their historical significance and deliciousness: maple syrup, cranberries, and oysters. [Maple syrup at Ioka Valley Farm] Maple takes all shapes and flavors at Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock, which sells plenty of syrup alongside products such as maple sugar, maple cream, maple butter, and maple barbecue and hot sauces. Photo Credit : Ben Garver/The Berkshire Eagle A food whose history goes back to indigenous peoples, maple syrup became a staple among European settlers in the region we now know as Massachusetts — and seeing how it is made is one of the Commonwealth’s most fascinating agricultural attractions. During sugaring season (roughly mid-February to early April), you can watch as freshly collected maple sap is boiled into syrup at places like Hancock’s [Ioka Valley Farm](, where you can also sample the sweet elixir drizzled over pancakes and waffles at the farm’s on-site café. [North Hadley Sugar Shack]( in North Hadley likewise opens its sugaring operation to the public in early spring, while it sells syrup and other maple products, from salad dressings to candies, all year round. Another way to experience some maple magic is with [Mass Audubon](, which offers sugaring interpretive programs at a number of its locations, including [Drumlin Farm]( in Lincoln and [Boston Nature Center]( in Mattapan. [Harvesting Cranberries] While most of the Massachusetts cranberry harvest is processed into sauce, juice, or dried cranberries, fans of the tart red berry can often find the fresh version at local growers. Photo Credit : Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Harvested in late fall, cranberries were first cultivated in 1816 in Dennis, Massachusetts. These days, there are more than 300 cranberry growers in the southeastern part of the state, whose roughly 13,000 acres of crops make Massachusetts the third-largest cranberry-producing region in the world. Learn more about this radiant red superfood through the [Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association](, which lists farms and shops selling fresh cranberries as well as specific places that offer bog tours, such as [Red Meadow]( in Carver and [Annie’s Crannies]( in Dennis, the town where cranberry farming all began. Oysters have been a fixture on the local-food scene for generations, harvested both by indigenous peoples and by later arrivals. So impressed was explorer Samuel de Champlain by the local oyster beds that he named what is now Wellfleet Harbor “Port aux Huitres” (Port of Oysters). Today, oysters are the most valuable species in the state’s aquaculture portfolio, with an annual harvest whose worth was recently estimated at $30 million. [Seasonal farm tours at Duxbury’s Island Creek Oysters] Seasonal farm tours at Duxbury’s Island Creek Oysters include a visit to the hatchery where baby oysters are grown and the chance for visitors to try their hand at shucking. Photo Credit : Colleen Blair Operating mostly around Cape Cod and the South Shore, the Commonwealth’s oyster farms include [Island Creek Oysters](, which offers seasonal tours of its farm and operates a raw bar year-round, with a patio overlooking Duxbury Bay. Seafood enthusiasts can also take a private oyster farm tour with Martha’s Vineyard’s [Cottage City Oysters](, which leads a one-hour “floating raw-bar experience“ through its oyster beds. 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