Shelburne Farm

About the Farm

Shelburne Farm stands as the oldest pick-your-own apple orchard in eastern Massachusetts, a small slice of authentic agricultural paradise located just 20 miles west of downtown Boston. Planted at the turn of the twentieth century, this beloved orchard has thrived under the stewardship of several hardworking, passionate, and dedicated families, each leaving their unique mark while preserving the rich traditions of New England farming. The farm has been voted the region's best apple picking destination, where time slows down and visitors can experience the timeless New England tradition of harvesting fresh fruit while creating memories to last a lifetime.

Currently owned and operated by the Painter family since the 1990s, Shelburne Farm has embraced the magic of autumnal apple picking and its unique ability to bring families together in the crisp fall air. Three generations of Painters, orchard helpers, and family friends have worked together tirelessly over the last 20 years to make the farm thrive in a new era. With assistance from the UMass Extension Fruit Program introducing new planting and horticultural techniques, they have expanded the orchard's offerings to include as many varieties of apples, peaches, Asian pears, and pumpkins as possible. Beyond growing world-class fruit, the Painters have welcomed an ever-expanding circle of guests each year by adding exciting family activities such as hay rides, pedal tractors, playgrounds, live music, and a barnyard full of farm animals.

The farm's rich history traces back through the Lynch family, who owned and operated the orchard from the mid-1960s until the late nineties, transforming it into the first pick-your-own apple farm in eastern Massachusetts. Under their stewardship, the orchard expanded from a tiny footprint to more than 50 acres, pioneering the use of semi-dwarf trees and adopting innovative green practices. Before them, siblings David, Roy and Catherine Clemens purchased the farmland in the early 1920s, operating ambitious orchards that sprawled across 180 acres. When the Lynch family were forced to part with their beloved farm, they partnered with the state of Massachusetts and local conservation groups to place the orchard land under an agricultural preservation restriction, ensuring that this slice of New England heritage will remain dedicated to productive farming in perpetuity.