New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Reader’s Digest names Lyman’s best Connecticut apple orchard
Apple picking season is here and, according to Reader’s Digest, Lyman Orchards should be on your list.
The two-centuries-old orchard was named as Connecticut’s best on the magazine’s list of “The Best Place to Go Apple Picking in Every State.”
“I can’t speak about other orchards, but I think there are a few things that make Lyman Orchards special,” said Gary Jalbert, president and CEO of Lyman Orchards.
“Our guests can select from nearly a dozen apple varieties that are eco-certified, meaning they meet a high standard and have been grown in an environmentally conscious manner.”
Jalbert added that Lyman’s soils are rich, making the flavor of their apples “second to none.”
And Lyman’s also provides a picturesque setting for apple picking.
After picking out fresh ecocertified apples, Reader’s Digest suggests picking up a slice of Lyman’s award-winning pie. It was named Best Pie by Connecticut Magazine in 2020 and several years prior.
“Grab a slice of their awardwinning Hi-Top Apple Pie made from scratch in the Apple Barrel, the farm’s market which sells tons of fresh-baked goodies,” Readers’ Digest says.
RELATED: A 2021 guide to Connecticut’s Apple Orchards
Executive Vice President John Lyman said it is an honor to be nominated by the readers of Connecticut Magazine for Best Pie once again in 2021; the winner will be announced in October.
This year has been one of Connecticut’s best harvest years, according to local growers. In a previous interview John Lyman said, “This is one of our best apple crops ever.”
According to Lyman, avoiding weather extremes beyond wind and rain helped produce a good apple harvest this year. “With the rain and orchards on hills, the trees and the orchards haven’t been as negatively impacted as other agricultural operations in low-lying areas,’’ he said.
Besides apple picking, the orchard has other activities people can look forward to. From getting lost in the corn maze to blasting apples from their apple cannon or shopping at the farm’s market, The Apple Barrel.
Lyman Orchards also has dining options. The orchard has a deli inside the Apple Barrel, a snack bar at the Apple Nine Golf Course, and the renovated 1741 Pub & Grill at the main clubhouse where, according to Jalbert, “they serve some of the best burgers in the state.”
Per CDC guidelines, the orchard requires face masks for those who are not vaccinated and social distancing is recommended.