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*Tours*
Carlson Orchards is pleased each year to host many area school children and teach them about the many value-added processes we are involved with here on the farm. School groups come to the farm and get to experience first hand our cider mill in action -- the largest producer of its kind in New England. We also have a very active packing house where the apples are sorted, sized, bagged and boxed. Food doesn't just arrive in the store for us to buy. Watching our productions in operation make a lasting and, we think, valuable impression on young minds about the local food source and its economic importance here in the Commonwealth. Of course, for the smaller ones, it's also fun just to pat the pumpkins in their bins.

Tours on the farm consist of : 15 minute lecture on apples, growing conditions, and the equipment used for commercial picking. Quick demonstration on the proper way to pick apples and its importance on new growth apples. Trip into the orchard for apple picking (1/4 peck per child.) Tour of the cider mill and other line operations as they are in production--packing house, cider jelly evaporator, apple slicing machine. Quick refreshing taste of fresh Carlson Orchards Premium Blend apple cider To schedule a tour, please call M-F 9-5 800- 286-3916. We can make arrangements for special needs children.