Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 52 NOVEMBER 2020 L I V E + P L AY FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT russellorchards.com when the barn and orchards are hives of activity and it's not unusual for people to stand in long lines waiting for apple cider donuts to get out of the frier. Since such crowds would be unsafe this year, Russell Orchards has added a new outdoor weekend market in its field. Now, favorite fall items are outside, like bags of apples, donuts, and pies. "It eliminates that crowded feeling inside the barn," Russell says. "It's an attractive place to go shopping, and it's outside and people feel safe." Ordering Thanksgiving pies from Russell Orchards is another tradition that's still in place this year. Among Russell Orchards' most popular Thanksgiving pies are apple cranberry, apple mince, and an apple crumb pie topped with an apple crisp topping. In addition to ordering freshly baked pies, customers can also pick up Thanksgiving pies from the farm store freezer that they can bake at home. Russell Orchards fruit wines add another local taste to Thanksgiving tables. The wines are all made from the farm's own fruits and come in an incredible range of varieties like dandelion, elderberry, lilac, and pumpkin spice. For the holidays, Russell recommends its blueberry wines—both its wild blueberry and dry blueberry, which is aged in French oak— to pair well with turkey and even substitute for a cabernet, as well as its zingy, jewel-toned jostaberry wine. For an old New England feel, opt for one of their hard ciders, such as the Sweetheart Hard Cider served with desserts like apple pies and crisps, or its drier cider varieties like Middle Ridge or Max's Dry. Also nice to pair with dessert or serve before the meal is the Pink Lady apple wine, or the sweet and sparkling J's Ice Cider, Russell says. Although this year doesn't feel like one to celebrate, Russell Orchards is celebrating, not only 100 years of its orchard, but also the fall season, its customers, and the value of holding onto tradition in the face of hardship. "Despite the most difficult circumstances that our area has seen in most everybody's lifetime, right now we are celebrating that we're hanging in there, and we're still seen as a place that families and customers can come to get their fresh local fruit and vegetables," Russell says. Douglas and Miranda Russell continue to evolve their business during COVID-19. PHOTOGRAPHS BY HANNAH DAIGLE, BY KINDRA CLINEFF (TOP)