Traditions: My Family Applepicking Story

Daniel Griffin

Opinion Editor

Lucky enough to grow up in a big family with some even bigger traditions, for me as a kid every season meant something special. From St. Patty’s Day at our favorite Irish restaurants to birthday dinners at The Chateau and everywhere in between, quality time and traditions doing the things we love has always mattered the most. One of these traditions being apple picking in the late Summer and early Fall, I personally have a strong opinion to the fun and enjoyment of this Autumn tradition. Something my family would share with one another years on end, I think of the activity in an entirely positive light, as some of my most fond memories have been apple picking growing up.

Personally tending to go to the same farm every Fall, Parlee Farms, this underrated yet very popular spot not far from the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border is where our fun always began. The most practical location for my family with my Aunt, Kathleen, living just minutes up the road, while we weren’t accustomed to the area too closely, being a family originating from the Boston and South Shore, this farm would bring about so many childhood memories.

Still to this day remembering the feeling of getting off the highway onto that long road lined with trees beginning their foliage and a car packed of my aunt Dottie, my grandmother Jean, my brother Tommy, my cousin Josephine, and my mom Jean, the calming feeling of seeing the farm appear out of nowhere in the distance would always excite us. In the air the smell of apple cider and cinnamon donuts from their large country store, as we would pull up into the large rock parking lot, in all directions there were pure smiling faces. Including our own as well, after an hour ride to the farm, the liberating feeling of leaving the cramped, yet enjoyable car grew even more once we got in line for the tractor trailer. Buying tickets and waiting for the next ride out to the rows of apple fields in the distance, the anticipation of the tractor trailer as it came around always excited us as kids.

Finally exiting the short but sweet ride and walking down the paths onto fields of what felt like endless apples, each with a sign marking their specific type, we would chase one another throughout the lanes like an endless game of tag. Jumping up as high as we could to grab apples off of trees and taste them, comparing one others like we were A-tier food critics, there was so much fun in these moments. Taking a step back from the business of our lives and sports to just spend some simple moments together, the joy on all of our faces during these days is something I will always remember.

And to finish off our day grabbing a treat from the country store, whether it be a bag of freshly made apple cider donuts, a signature of Parlee farms, or an apple fritter sundae, each of us would head back to the car happy. A day well done and a day well spent, these Autumn afternoons are one’s I will never forget. Truly a joy to be a part of and a lot of fun, apple picking truly is one of my favorite Fall traditions, second to none.