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Autumn Hills Orchard is an authentic working orchard located in the historic and scenic town of Groton, Massachusetts. The 90-acre orchard is located on three rolling drumlin hills which run from south to north. Originally known as Lewis Hill, the property has been an orchard since the 1930’s. The orchard was significantly expanded in the 1950’s giving it the look and feel that we enjoy today. The Orchard introduced Pick Your Own (PYO) in the 1980’s to complement its existing commercial business. Today, PYO represents roughly half of the orchard’s business with the balance split between its CSA programs and premium wholesale sales.
Longtime Groton residents, Kim and Ed Herdiech, purchased the orchard in early 2021. The Herdiech’s mission is to preserve the beautiful property and vital local orchard and food system. Key to these goals is balancing business model changes without changing the look and feel of the orchard to ensure its long-term financial viability.
The harvest season begins with raspberries and blueberries in July followed by apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, blackberries, grapes, pluots and lots of apples and pears. Today, there are approximately 40 varieties of apples including numerous heirloom varieties available to PYO customers. There are another 35 newly planted apple varieties which will complement the existing varieties nicely in the coming years.
Their growing practices rely on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. The Herdiech's work hard to ensure that they use best practices to grow the best fruit possible in a sustainable manner with the least amount or impact as possible on the land and animals that live in and around the orchard.
Longtime Groton residents, Kim and Ed Herdiech, purchased the orchard in early 2021. The Herdiech’s mission is to preserve the beautiful property and vital local orchard and food system. Key to these goals is balancing business model changes without changing the look and feel of the orchard to ensure its long-term financial viability.
The harvest season begins with raspberries and blueberries in July followed by apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, blackberries, grapes, pluots and lots of apples and pears. Today, there are approximately 40 varieties of apples including numerous heirloom varieties available to PYO customers. There are another 35 newly planted apple varieties which will complement the existing varieties nicely in the coming years.
Their growing practices rely on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. The Herdiech's work hard to ensure that they use best practices to grow the best fruit possible in a sustainable manner with the least amount or impact as possible on the land and animals that live in and around the orchard.
