Childhood, nostalgia, a place to unplug, and to support local. Russell Orchards is amazing. Offering fresh produce, pies, and other pastries. It also has a wine bar and a section to buy knick-knacks, tshirts and hoodies. I would say it's most known for their apple picking but they offer other picking options depending on the season. I went here yesterday and it's not quite apple picking season, but you could pick your own flowers or berries. It's also so fun coming here in the fall when they have a whole pumpkin patch of available pumpkins out on display. So pretty. I love walking around the country store. I grew up with my family coming here just about every summer or fall, and we still make a visit at least once a year. Not much has changed because it doesn't need to. read more

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Wonderful spot on the North Shore to go Apple picking! Great apple selection and staff were super helpful about what varieties were still well stocked, what apples are best for baking, flavor profiles, and more. To get to the orchard for apple picking, you can either take a hay ride (for a fee of a few dollars) or walk (roughly 10 minute walk on well marked trail). Don't skip the Apple cider donuts! There is a food trailer outside where you can get them made fresh! Inside the farm store, you can get locally sourced items, baked goods, wine flights, and ice cream! There is a seating area connected to the farm store or you can grab a picnic table or bench on the lawn. read more

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Ambiance: Market-style store selling a variety of their own goods. There's fresh apples, baked items, fruit wine, and ice cream. Service is quick and efficient. Activities: Wine flights, a small pumpkin patch, and of course the apple fields where you can pick your own. Apple Donuts: Incredible! Fun to watch them made fresh, though I wish they came out warm. The sugar and cinnamon is in the inside rather than outside! Strong cinnamon flavor, not overly sweet. Apple Roll-Up: Warm and delicious, just like an apple pie in roll-up form with fresh apples and cinnamon. Apple Cider: The best! Fresh, slightly tart, mostly sweet, and so refreshing. Pure apple flavor. read more

Russell Orchards - Quart of cider - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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What an amazing experience! During fall it's even more extra special because of the pumpkins. The bakery and the drink choices to take home were great! I do think the cider alcoholic beverages (wine and cider ) option in the flight could have actually been sweeter. Some tasted a bit watered down or tart . Hope there's some new options if we come back again! The cream cheese cider donut was to die for and the savory scone! I can shine and this is an apple clafouti pie l made! read more

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I went here last fall and couldn't recommend it more! It's the perfect four-in-one fall destination. There's apple picking, pumpkin patch, cider donuts, and seasonal wine flight. Doesn't get much better than that! I loved that it was a fruit wine flight in particular. Such a lovely farm. read more

Russell Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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Russell Orchards was such a fun time. While on a girls trip we decided we wanted to go Apple picking. Russell Orchard had lots of different apple varieties. It was so much fun to walk down and try the different apples. We took home a big bag full and everyone back home said they tasted way better than the store bought. Afterwards, we sampled the wine and enjoyed some yummy snacks and some delicious cider. It is a great way to spend the day and enjoy some beautiful weather. read more

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Stopped here after exploring the estate and hiking to see if they had any quick lunch options. They had some prepared sandwiches but they were small and overpriced so we decided to keep driving. They did have some cute products for sale though. read more

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We had a great time picking blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The staff seemed nice and friendly. I loved the store. The cider donuts were okay. I am writing this review mainly because of the state of some of the chickens, mainly the hens. I was horrified by some of the hens' condition. So many had backs with missing feathers and scabs where they were pecked out. I'm not sure if it was because there are too many roosters in the coop or they are pecking each other. It was disturbing as a chicken owner. I have never, in six years, had a hen in that condition. I felt awful for them. This was mainly in the coop closest to the barn. I think that this needs to be looked into. read more

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Minus one star because the goat is living all by itself without any homies. Stepping out of the car onto the grounds, Russell Orchards is a very special place. Situated right near the beach, it's a perfect weekend spot for apple picking, or to just roam around. Their animals are adorable, and include two donkeys, two pigs, one goat, and a plethora of chickens. Their farm store has delicious produce. I didn't want a whole peck so I bought one of every kind of apple, and they were divine. Would love to come back and try one of the many fruit wines! read more

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After visiting Castle Hill (located just a few min down the road) we then went to Russell Orchards for some ice cream and a bit of wine tasting. Ice cream was tasty and the wine was ok. It was a nice day of exploration and whining down with a sweet drink and treat read more

Russell Orchards - Ice cream - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

We've been visiting Russell's since before it was purchased and renamed years ago. My children grew up coming to the orchard throughout the seasons, so it's always been a place full of memories for us. Recently, I took my niece apple picking and was honestly taken aback by how much things have changed. There were staff members everywhere -- at least four people just directing traffic -- which might explain the steep prices. It's an orchard, not the Super Bowl. We paid $28 per bag of apples that cost $4.99 in the market, where that price already includes labor. Here, we're doing the picking ourselves -- so a roughly 450% markup seems excessive, especially since the market itself still turns a profit at $4.99. On top of that, we were charged $3 per person for the tractor ride to the start of the orchard -- a ride that used to be free. With about 20-30 people on each trip, they're making close to $100 every few minutes. When you're already charging 4-5 times the market price for apples, adding a transportation fee feels like adding insult to injury. We also stopped for cider and apple donuts, of course, though we discovered they no longer allow visitors to feed the animals -- another small disappointment. I completely understand moderate price increases, maybe even 20% to account for inflation. But this goes far beyond that. It feels like pure greed, and it's disheartening to see a beloved local experience turn into something so commercialized. As a business owner myself, I'd never dream of price gouging to this extent. Our simple day of apple picking came close to $100, which is outrageous. I don't know who's leaving the glowing reviews without mentioning these prices -- perhaps people used to overinflated costs in the Tri-State area -- but for longtime visitors like us, it's genuinely sad. We've decided to plant our own small orchard at home instead. If we're going to do the work, we might as well do it for ourselves. It's a shame to see yet another case of "killing the goose that laid the golden egg." read more

My favorite place to go fruit picking in the area! Whether it's the fall (pumpkin and apples) or summer (berries!), visiting Russell Orchards is always a fun time. The prices aren't too bad either! On our latest visit picking strawberries, because you pay a $5 per person admission fee (which is then taken off your total at the end), we walked away with two full cartons of berries for less than $1 total. Everything here is so fresh and delicious, and there's always something to pick even if you come at peak hours. I also really love visiting their market, they have so many baked goods, jams, wines, honey, and so many other treats that make for great gifts. Can't wait to visit again soon! read more

Russell Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

We had such a beautiful time at Russell last week! We went the Saturday before Labor Day. We have a toddler and he absolutely loved it. The farm store is so sweet. There are lots of options for baked goods, honey, and cooking supplies. They also sell their own produce, they have amazing foods and drinks ready-made for sale. LULU THE PIG is so cute! We loved the animals. The hayride was awesome, Marissa's dad is so cool! Also great selection of apples. Gala, cortland, gingergold, Macintosh to name a few. The guys who work the orchards told us mid August and early September are a great time to go picking because the crowds haven't come out yet. They also have berry picking all summer. The grounds are so beautiful and it's right next to Cranes Beach. 10/10 recommend! read more

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I visited here during the summer and recently in October and it is a nice place to visit during any season. It's especially close to Crane Estate which is why we stopped here the first time around since we saw it during our drive. During this visit it was more crowded with people of all ages as there is quite a bit to see here. There is a store front, apple picking, hay rides and farm animals. read more

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I haven't always checked in - But I've been to Russell Orchards over 5 times (and I live in Texas!) Here's what you can expect: 1. Amazing hot apple cider 2. Fresh, soft apple cider donuts 3. Some gluten free treats! (We had some coconut macaroons and blueberry muffins!) 4. Apple picking if you come during the right time of the year 5. Apples and produce to buy (pre-picked!) if you just want a quick visit I love heading to Russell Orchards at the first part of my New England trip so I have days to work through my apples (and cheese!) The only con - and I have to list it - is that they don't have real bathrooms. Only Port-a-potties, which really aren't my fave. I don't think this always used to be the case, but it was when I visited recently. read more

We saw this orchard on the way to Castle Hill. Since it had a winery attached, we had to stop by and check it out. Nice and rustic on the inside, you can get all the usual goodies that you would expect at an orchard. Baked goods, cider, lots of fun odds and ends, but the wine is definitely an added treat. We tried four fruit wines, each were delicious, and the staff was super friendly as well. Definitely worth the stop, and we will have to come back again the next time that we are in the area. read more

Such a great spot! So many delicious treats, baked goods, ice cream, and of course a fabulous little winery!! The wine flight was 18.00 and you got to sample 4 wines. I went with the fruit wine flight. All very good and unique. The staff was very friendly too! read more

Russell Orchards - Exterior - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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this is a perfect apple picking place! it's beautiful and the apples are spectacular!!

Russell Orchards is a fun place to visit. We came in for the strawberry picking and it was a beautiful day. Nicely crowded in the field, but the farm store was fully packed. The $5 wine tasting was a nice treat and surprise - 1 cider and 3 fruit wine and you get to keep the cute little glass. I felt the bottles are a little overly priced, but none the less they are nice tasting wines even though they are a little on the sweeter side for my taste. The cider donut was ok, it was too dry and crumbly. To get to the fields, you can either choose to walk or take the hay ride. I rather walk than sit in the tractor and take the ride. To enter into the farm you pay $4 per person and after you pick the strawberries, it's $3.9/lbs. A nice fun place to visit with either family or friends. read more

Russell Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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The donuts are complete garbage. Do not buy them. No sugar and the donuts taste like crap 0/5. Apple picking is good! BUT on the weekend they force you to buy 1 bag per 5 people ($25) so if you have 6 people, you need to pay $50.... They said that the $5 a person only applies on weekdays but it does not say that on the website. Anyways, it's fine (but still a rip off) if you'll use the apples but our group was mostly interested in taking pictures and picking a few apples. Overall, there were enough apples to pick and we found the honey crisp apples in the far back (not on the signs). 3/5 for apple varieties and the amount to pick. The farm animals are cute and there were a lot of pumpkins for purchase but no pumpkin patch. I'd recommend honeypot over Russell. read more

If you are looking for a doughnut leaning more on the healthy side, this place has the best cider doughnuts I have ever had.

I was in the mood for blackberries in celebration of Lughnasadh, and I was having difficulty trying to find a local place. After a quick google search and a short jaunt in my vehicle, I was most pleased to find this hidden gem in the north shore. Unfortunately the farm stand had run out of blackberries, and were in the process of picking more to bring fresh from the fields. They however had currants (black & red) and blueberries. I used the currants for a smoothie, yet to try them individually. But the blueberries! Absolutely amazing! I have had blueberries before lacking sweetness or flavor so I had not been terribly fond of them, but these were delicious and full of flavor. Not overtly juicy, but they were excellent and enjoyable eating alone. I was also pleased at finding the bread here, I picked up a cinnamon swirl loaf made by a bakery in Rowley. The clerk at check-out recommended it for French toast. It did not disappoint! The bread had gone faster than the berries! I was also impressed to find artisan loafs from A&J King bakery, a bakery near me on the Salem/Peabody line. It is a high quality artisan shop and well worth the money. Omg! I almost forgot! The apple cider donuts though small, were delicious! And made fresh that morning! I felt they were a bit pricey at $5 for a half dozen, $9.5 for a dozen. I paid the price because it was a rare treat. I felt it was somewhat expensive for the size of the donuts. Oh and I picked up a blueberry scone. I think it was $4.50, I actually found it bland and a little too dry. I don't feel it was worth the price. There's knick-knacks, produce, clothes with the farms logo, and wine produced on the property. I didn't pick up a bottle as we had just bought some from another local winery, and ma femme hates when I purchase too much wine to kick around the home. The employees were pleasant and most helpful. Apparently they will be looking for help in the fall and are currently looking to hire people to bring in further harvests. read more

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We wanted to get the kids out of the city and the burbs to give them some fresh air and something different to take in. Russell Orchards fit the bill. There are a few animals to see including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, a sheep, and a huge pig. The kids were young enough though that they were happy enough to just walk around the pond! The adults spent our time shopping in the indoor market. Of course the first purchase was fresh cider donuts, six for $5. So good. Fresh cider was also for sale, both hot and cold. I also scooped up some gooseberries because when else will I find those? I talked myself into buying an expensive fruit wine as well. Not sure yet if it was worth it, oh well! We decided to forego the apple picking but we thought pumpkin picking was an option. Turns out you just pick from the pumpkins arranged throughout the farm. It ended up for the best though as I don't think the kids would have made it much longer. We all had a fun time so I would not be surprised if we came back. Crane beach is close by so you can make a whole day of it if you like. read more

My favorite orchard that I go each time I come to Ipswich on my way to Crane's Beach. Today was the strawberry festival and I'm so happy I made it since it was my first time after all these years to go to the strawberry festival. I enjoy picking my own strawberries. I love the hayride too. I love having the apple cider, cider donuts and the farm animals. It really is a my place of heavenly peace. A very ideal place for all ages. Russell orchards is a farm stand with their own wine too. read more

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We love their apple cider donuts! It's such a treat especially during the fall with a hot cup of apple cider :) We get them on our way home after a day at Crane Beach. We also love the apple cider donut ice cream sandwiches! So yummy on a hot summer day! read more

Super fun for a quick cider (or fruit wine) tasting after going to the beach. The pear cider was our personal favorite. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. We picked up a berry tart and cider donut to go. The fruit tart was absolutely delicious and we also loved that the cider donut wasn't too sweet. We'll be back to pick fruits this summer! read more

I can't speak much about the apple picking but to see their animal enclosures so filthy and neglected says a lot about their overall image. The last time I've been here was years ago and it looked just as dirty with feces, feathers, and dust all over. The animals and the cages need a serious scrub down and I feel so bad for their gargantuan pig who seems to have never left that spot since I was last here. The ponds are in such bad condition as well. The stable is just so dusty and who knows what else lies in the air there, I had to walk around with my shirt over my nose. Inside their store is nice but I didn't want to purchase anything because I know I can get my apple cider and donut fix elsewhere. Regardless, it's always a nice stop before heading to Crane beach. They really need to step it up with cleanliness. I do appreciate their outdoor sink but they might as well give out breathing masks and gloves before entering the barn area. read more

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Very disappointed. We came for the wine. Driving by the sign on the road advertised wine! Woohoo! On way back the we stopped by and picked up two bottles of interesting wine and were excited to try. We aren't wine snobs but we know what tastes good. Bought dry blueberry wine and a ginger+black currant wine. One dry one semi-sweet. First off, the price is insane!! $35 for one bottle! Everything else in that store was insanely priced as well. They had their fruit wines on the shelves with ribbons and medals hanging off of them...I have no idea how they won any awards, the wine tasted horrible! Just so bad. We couldn't finish it. It tasted almost like chemicals or medicine. We were hoping to support a small farm but now that's $70 down the drain. read more

The donuts need sugar on them. I've visited probably 30 times over the last 10 years. The EMPLOYEES ARE SO RUDEEEEEE!!!!!!! THIS PLACE IS BORING !!! If your an old crabby quiet person you will do just fine here. read more

What a fun place! I enjoy going apple picking and it is one of my favorite activities during the fall time. Apple cider donuts were healthier than I expected as it had no sugar covering the surface of the donuts. I am more of a fan of sugary donuts Russell Orchards' donuts were not my favorite. Because it was almost the end of the season for apple picking, there were only two types of apples available. Yet, the quality was great. There were bunch of animals, such as giant and small pigs, chickens, and ducks. Inside the store, they had a hard apple cider/wine tasting session that you get to take the glass back home and try four different hard ciders/wines, which was very tasty. I got one litter apple cider to take back home. Overall, I liked this place and had a lot of fun. read more

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Someone recommended this orchard as having the best Apple Cider Donuts. I did not like their donuts. It had a rubbery feel, not sweet enough for me, and they do not have a cinnamon/sugar dip version. What was really exceptional was their Blueberry Pie. Comes frozen and ready to eat. ($16 for 10 in.) We bought the ready to eat and tasted it in the car. Upper and lower crust are very thin, not flaky, but filled with blueberries and sweetened just right. One of the best blueberry pies I have eaten. read more

Russell Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

I am curious to why there was a very small amount of brown, murky water in a single bowl to share amongst multiple pigs on a 94 degree sunny summer day. I understand that they are pigs and get dirty - but for the water to be this murky and 4+ bowls to be empty means it hasn't been changed or attended to in days. All of these pigs were crying, panting, and laying in the shade. This is so cruel and inhumane. It is sad - because I genuinely like Russell Orchards. I come here to pick berries, apples, and the product that the general store sells is really good. However, neglecting animals like this will get you a 1/5 star rating. Please address this issue. read more

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**Apple picking is closed for the season** This is our favorite PYO apple farm and we have been coming here every year, sometimes multiple times a year, to get our fresh apples. We went back two weeks ago and it was the last day of apple picking so it was super crowded but not chaotic. The parking is easy and there are many parking attendants who will guide you where to park. NO DOGS ALLOWED. Once you pass by the farm store and pumpkin patches/picnic area (very kid/family friendly), you will need to pick whether to walk to the apple picking area vs. take the hay ride. We chose to walk there to check out the farm and take the tractor ride back since we will be carrying a bag of apples. If you choose to walk, you pay at the entrance and if you take the hay ride, you pay when you get off. CASH ONLY. There was an ATM but didn't use it so don't know about the fee. For $20, you get one fairly large bag for upto 4 people. It is an awesome deal. Since we were late in the season, apples were nearly gone but we were able to find really good gala and jonagold trees and was able to fill up the whole bag. The apples taste sooooooo good when it's fresh and I have never enjoyed apples until I started coming here and getting fresh apples. We took some photos, enjoyed the foliage, then took the hayride back. John Deere tractor uses filtered used oil from apple cider donut which is pretty cool. We went to the farm store and the line for the apple cider donut was very long and had to wait 20+ min but was worth the wait as it was super fresh, hot, flavorful! They also have wine tasting and I have done that in the past and bought their wine in the past. We left with 2 bags of donuts and 1 large bag full of fresh apples and we could not be happier! Tl;dr Easy parking. Awesome apples. Cash only for apple picking but ATM available. $20 for one bag upto 4 people. Family friendly. No dogs allowed. Eat apple cider donut while it's hot. Good selection of produce, wines, honey, and other local products. read more

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This is a "I was here 3 years ago but still remember this place fondly and I still want to Yelp it!" review. I came here with friends in October 2013...when I was still pregnant. It was a reunion of sorts-- one of my high school friends (who I handn't seen since 2001) and his then fiance-now-husband. We chose this place because it has wine tasting. I got permission from my doc to do a little tasting because they were just tiny sips! I didn't even swallow- I just wanted the taste on my tongue. (you get to keep the glass too!). Love that they have wine tasting. Very interesting wines. Young wines, but good. My favorite was the Pink Lady Apple Wine :) We only went apple picking, but I know they have LOTS of different fruit/veggie patches and I want to go back and pick all the things. This place deserves all of our business. It's also VERY close to Crane beach. It's such a nice place to sit and eat Russell's yummy apple donuts while taking in the scenery :) I can't wait to come back and write another 5 star review update but with more details. I just thought I'd say that if you are looking for a new place to pick apples (or veggies- their site/schedule is VERY informative), this is a great place to be. See you in the fall! :) read more

Russell Orchards - The Hayride! - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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Perfect way to start the day - picking fruit that we will eat later this evening. It was nice and quiet, all you could really hear were birds, so it was almost meditative to wander in these rows of fresh goodness and pick. Weather was definitely in our favor. Left farm with some quintessential Cider Donuts from their full scratch bakery too read more

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Well they have a pretty big place here, a store w/ all kinds of goodies as well as a winery to go along w/ the apple orchard. I had some issues though-they give you a plastic bag to pick your apples, seriously? I don't understand that & I also don't get why are you paying to go on a hay ride? These are just silly things that I couldn't wrap my head around, but after driving an hour, what are you going to do? You basically gotta pay up is all since it ain't cheap. Some of the apples were roped off since they weren't ready yet & then depending on what was available, hit or miss when you brought them home. I was glad to have a tried a new variety called ginger gold which were tasty. Haing freshly made cider donuts was awesome & thankfully they don't add all that extra sugar crap on the outside. It doesn't need it if made properly. read more

Our de facto apple pickin' grounds! The rows are well organized and the pick part of the farm is fairly sizeable. Plus, it's right down the way from Marini Farms, which will fill the gaps of your complete fall day (ie, corn maze, jumping pillow, hot non-donut food). Price runs $20 for a fat sack, and if you're just there for the ahm-bee-ahnce, you'll get a $3 entrance fee (applied as a credit to your apple haul). Pumpkin patch hits in multiple waves, and all them gourds are gourdgeous. Inside the market, you'll find fresh fried cider donuts for a buck a piece (1/2 doz for $5), and they run wine tastings of their own crop's buzzed best for $5. Four pours of things like apple, blueberry, strawberry rhubarb and cherry wines, award winning hard apple cider (Middle Ridge, represent!) and a take home glass. Plus, delectable crackers, and sweet palate cleansers like Effie's oat cakes and Lark shortbread cookies. Boom. The donuts aren't the best on their own, but put a scoop of ice cream from the dairy bar, fruit topping and a lil' whipped for (again) $5, and you've got a legendary apple cider donut sundae! FIND THAT ANYWHERE ELSE! Everything else about Russell Orchards gets a very strong four stars. But then I met Big Darryl, the house hog who weighs in at 1,000lb, and my life will never be the same. That half ton of porcine perfection bumps Russell up to five stars, and I know you'll feel the same. read more

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Russell Orchards has the best apple cider donuts hands down. They're deliciously crisp with great apple flavor and are a perfect snack after (or before) a day at the beach! We also really enjoy their apple cider and were excited to try one of their seasonal flavors, peach cider. It was tart and had wonderful flavor with just two ingredients, apple cider and peaches. You can tell they don't add additional sugar to the cider and it makes all the difference. We stopped in this weekend to do some wine tasting of their ciders and fruit wines. I have to say, while their cider wasn't to my taste, their fruit wines are great and reasonably priced. We really enjoyed the $5 tasting and cute wine glasses that we got to take home after the tasting. read more

Russell Orchards - Traditional and peach apple cider paired with the best apple cider donuts! - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

After a long day of driving to both Wingaersheek AND Crane's beach we were not able to enjoy the beach due to limited parking. Disappointed, we decided to go to Russell Orchards because it looked cute and friendly. Russell Orchards made our day a lot better. Besides eating the donuts, we enjoyed petting the cute and friendly animals and talking with the kind staff. After hearing our struggles to find a beach, a cashier (taller young man) actually was able to tell us a beach that was accessible and had parking. At the end of the day we were able to have a beach day south of Russell Orchards and we couldn't have been more grateful. Thank you Russell Orchards for a great day and keep up the good work!! read more

Russell Orchards - Farmers Market Near Me - Ipswich, Massachusetts

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This has been the go-to apple picking spot for our friends for the last couple of years. It's more than just apple picking though... farm animals, pumpkin patch and with the farm store selling apple cider donuts, all things apple, cider, fresh apples, other veggies and frozen foods, and wait for it... wine! This last go around we did their wine tasting - a cider, an apple wine, strawberry rhubarb wine, and blueberry wine were some of the tastes. I wouldn't say I walked away dying for more but nothing was terrible and some were even surprisingly decent (strawbarb wine, what what) The picking itself it fun - rows and rows broken out by variety, it's easy to spend an hour or more roaming around gathering up your haul. It can get a little crowded but we've never had a problem. Side note: the apple cider donuts are old school- no cinnamon sugar dusting. This was a real dividing line for our friends, half who preferred the purist version and half who were pissed not to have the extra sugar crunch. Consider yourself warned! read more