Apple of the Week: Crispin Apples

There's something special about Lyman Grown Crispin apples. Also known as Mutsu apples, Crispins are a hidden gem, offering that perfect balance of sweetness and tartness that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Originally a cross between Golden Delicious and the Japanese Indo apple, the Crispin combines the best traits of both: a honeyed sweetness, a juicy bite, and a crisp texture that lives up to its name. They're large, firm, and wonderfully crunchy, making them a great choice whether you're planning to bake, cook, or simply snack your way through fall.

One of the best parts about eating a Lyman Grown Crispin is how versatile they are. Their dense texture holds up beautifully in pies, crisps, and tarts, where they stay firm and flavorful even after baking. They're also delicious sliced fresh for lunchboxes or cheese boards, or cooked down into sauces and ciders. And because they're naturally juicy, they add a refreshing bite to salads and savory dishes too.

In the orchard, Crispin trees are easy to spot. Their golden-green fruit shines among the leaves, often with a slight blush that appears as the days grow cooler. They're one of our favorite varieties to recommend for pick-your-own because they stay crisp for weeks when stored properly and their size makes filling a bag both quick and rewarding.

Eco Certified & Grown with Care

All of our apples at Lyman Orchards are eco-certified, meaning they're grown using environmentally responsible farming practices that protect our land while producing high-quality fruit. It's part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability – so you can feel good about every crisp bite.

Celebrate 285 Years with Apple of the Week

In honor of our 285th anniversary, we're celebrating Crispin apples with these limited-time offers:

Each week, we're featuring a different apple variety along with special pricing, giving you a chance to explore new favorites or stock up on trusted classics.

Stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market this week (March 18 - March 24) to enjoy our Crispin apple deals and help us celebrate 285 years of farming in Middlefield, CT. 

Apple of the Week: Empire Apples - A Royal Favorite

The Empire apple lives up to its majestic name. First developed in New York in the 1940s, this variety is a cross between the classic McIntosh and Red Delicious apples. The result? An apple that blends the best of both worlds: the juicy sweetness of Red Delicious and the crisp, slightly tangy bite of McIntosh.

Empire apples are easy to recognize with their deep red skin and creamy white flesh. They're known for their satisfying crunch and balanced flavor - sweet with just a hint of tartness - which makes them a favorite for both snacking and cooking.

Why People Love Empire Apples

Empire apples are one of those varieties that seem to do it all. Their firm texture holds up beautifully whether you're enjoying them fresh or adding them to a favorite recipe.

Here are just a few reasons they're so popular:

Eco Certified & Grown with Care

All of our apples at Lyman Orchards are eco-certified, meaning they're grown using environmentally responsible farming practices that protect our land while producing high-quality fruit. It's part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability – so you can feel good about every crisp bite.

Celebrate 285 Years with Apple of the Week

In honor of our 285th anniversary, we're celebrating Empire  apples with these limited-time offers:

Fun Apple Fact

The name "Empire" is actual a nod to New York's nickname, the Empire State, where the apple was originally developed. Today, it's grown throughout the Northeast and has become a staple of many orchards, including right here in Connecticut.

Each week, we're featuring a different apple variety along with special pricing, giving you a chance to explore new favorites or stock up on trusted classics.

Stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market this week (March 11 - March 17) to enjoy our Fuji apple deals and help us celebrate 285 years of farming in Middlefield, CT. 

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Festival Specials at Lyman Orchards | 2026

Get ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with festive flavors and hearty favorites at Lyman Orchards! Whether you're stopping by for breakfast, lunch or grabbing a dinner to take home, we've got a lineup of limited-time specials to help you enjoy the holiday.

Available Saturday, March 14th - Tuesday, March 17th While Supplies Last:

Available Saturday, March 14th & Sunday, March 15th While Supplies Last:

Available Sunday, March 15th - Tuesday, March 17th While Supplies Last:

Stop by, wear your green, and celebrate the holiday with some delicious seasonal favorites. These specials are available for a limited time, so don't miss your chance to enjoy a little luck – and a lot of flavor!

Apple of the Week: The Magic of Macoun Apples

Few apple varieties capture the flavor of New England quite like the Macoun. Known for their deep red color, snow-white flesh, and a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, Macouns are a fan favorite year after year. One bite and you'll understand why, they're crisp, juicy, and bursting with that just-picked freshness that only comes from a local orchard.

Macoun apples are a cross between the McIntosh and Jersey Black varieties, giving them their signature snap and aroma. They're not only delicious but grown with care at Lyman Orchards. Our orchards are ec0-certified, meaning we follow environmentally responsible farming practices, reducing pesticide use, protecting pollinators, and nurturing healthy soil. When you pick a Macoun from our trees or grab a bag from the Apple Barrel Farm Market, you're enjoying a piece of fruit that's as kind to the planet as it is to your taste buds.

Macouns are often called "the perfect apple" by those who know them best:

These apples are one of our most popular apples for good reason! Sweet, crisp, and locally grown with care, Macouns are the true taste of fall at Lyman Orchards.

Eco Certified & Grown with Care

All of our apples at Lyman Orchards are eco-certified, meaning they're grown using environmentally responsible farming practices that protect our land while producing high-quality fruit. It's part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability – so you can feel good about every crisp bite.

Celebrate 285 Years with Apple of the Week

In honor of our 285th anniversary, we're celebrating Macoun  apples with these limited-time offers:

Each week, we're featuring a different apple variety along with special pricing, giving you a chance to explore new favorites or stock up on trusted classics.

Stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market this week (March 4 - March 10) to enjoy our Macoun apple deals and help us celebrate 285 years of farming in Middlefield, CT. 

Apple of the Week: Cortland Apples - The Apple That Stays Beautiful

There's something instantly recognizable about a Cortland apple. Slice into one and you'll notice the bright, snowy white flesh – a detail that sets it apart from many other varieties. While most apples begin to brown within minutes, Cortlands are known for resisting oxidation, keeping their fresh-cut look longer. It's a small detail, but one that makes a big difference whether you're preparing a salad, assembling a charcuterie board, or setting out a platter for guests.

The Cortland apple was introduced in 1915 by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. Developed by horticulturist S.A. Beach, it was creating by crossing the McIntosh and Ben Davis apples. The result was a variety that combined the sweet-tart flavor people loved with improved texture and versatility. More than a century later, Cortland apples continue to earn their place in orchards and kitchens alike.

Beyond their good looks, Cortlands offer a tender, juicy bite with a balanced flavor that leans gently sweet with a hint of tartness. They hold their shape beautifully when baked, making them a reliable choice for pies, crisps, and tarts. At the same time, they're just as enjoyable eaten fresh – crisp enough for snacking, yet not overly firm.

Cortlands are the kind of apple that quietly does it all. They're practical without sacrificing flavor, and beautiful without being delicate. Whether you're baking something special, packing lunches, or simply slicing one for an afternoon snack, the Cortland proves that sometimes the most dependable apples are the ones that have been around the longest.

Eco Certified & Grown with Care

All of our apples at Lyman Orchards are eco-certified, meaning they're grown using environmentally responsible farming practices that protect our land while producing high-quality fruit. It's part of our long-standing commitment to sustainability – so you can feel good about every crisp bite.

Celebrate 285 Years with Apple of the Week

In honor of our 285th anniversary, we're celebrating Cortland  apples with these limited-time offers:

Each week, we're featuring a different apple variety along with special pricing, giving you a chance to explore new favorites or stock up on trusted classics.

Stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market this week (February 24 - March 2) to enjoy our Cortland apple deals and help us celebrate 285 years of farming in Middlefield, CT. 

Help Support Jamaica's Recovery After Hurricane Melissa - With a Heartfelt Update

Update: What We Were Able to Accomplish Together

We want to take a moment to share just how much impact our community helped create, and how meaningful it has been to partner with The Salvation Army on this effort.

Most people know The Salvation Army for their iconic holiday programs, from bell ringers at Christmas to their Angel Tree toy distributions, but they do so much more year-round. In addition to seasonal support, they are one of the most active disaster-response organizations in the world, providing emergency food, clean water, shelter, hygiene supplies, and emotional support to families and communities affected by storms and other crises. Their teams were on the ground responding to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, delivering life-saving aid and helping communities begin to recover.

Thanks to your support:

Together, that's $12,514.14 given to support relief efforts and the hardworking individuals who mean so much to our farm family.

Your generosity, whether rounding up at the register, donating online, or spreading the word, truly made a difference. We are proud to stand alongside our community in supporting Jamaica's recovery and caring for those who care for our orchards year after year.

Thank you for helping us give back.


Now through December 31st, we are working to raise funds for Hurricane Relief in Jamaica.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm with winds near 185 mph, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Families have lost homes, power, and access to basic necessities.

This cause is especially close to our hearts. Each year, we are fortunate to welcome a dedicated team of Jamaican workers who help us in our orchards during the growing season. They come to us through a U.S. Department of Labor program which allows foreign guest workers to work on U.S. farms during the growing season. We have been employing guest workers from Jamaica for nearly 60 years. Many of our current workers have been with us for over 10 seasons. Some are sons of former workers. They are essential to our efforts in successfully completing our harvests every year. These workers have recently gone home and now face the arduous task of repairing from the damage done by the hurricane. Lyman Orchards has supported them individually with a hurricane relief donation.

The rebuilding efforts in Jamaica will take time and require many resources. Lyman Orchards is partnering with The Salvation Army to launch a donation campaign in support of the people of Jamaica. The Salvation Army is mobilizing to provide immediate relief by delivering food, shelter, and compassionate care to those affected.

How you can help:

Every donation helps restore dignity and hope to communities in crisis and ensures The Salvation Army can act swiftly and effectively when help is needed most.