Granite State Growers: Moulton Farm

It’s no surprise that agritourism is on the rise in New Hampshire, because fall is all about farms. From leaf peepers pulling over on the Kancamagus for a piping hot cup of apple cider, to teenagers running through flashlight corn mazes and pick-your-own apples galore, the state comes alive every fall as tourists and Granite Staters alike flock to local farms. New Hampshire’s local farms are the backbone of our communities, and many of them offer unique and interesting experiences that are as fresh as their produce; with the hope that visitors will stop by and stay a while, and then keep coming back.

Here’s a look at some of New Hampshire’s fabulous farms:

Moulton Farm, Meredith (profile below)
Brookford Farm, Canterbury
LaValley Farms, Hooksett
Miles Smith Farm, Loudon
Brookdale Fruit Farm, Hollis
Vernon Family Farm, Newfields

Moulton Farm, Meredith

Flowers in a rainbow of colors await harvesting.

Jeff Mills remembers his first job working for Moulton Farm when he was 16.

 “I did a lot of picking of vegetables and washing. That was my first job; first summer here,” he recalls.

Of course, he eventually moved up the ranks as he got older, taking on new responsibilities at the Meredith farm as needed.

“I worked here all through college and then stayed on after college,” Mills says. 

Now as general manager, his daily tasks have gotten more complex, but he hasn’t forgotten one core mission of the farm: to grow outstanding crops for local residents. 

Not many farms in New Hampshire today can say they’ve been serving up fresh veggies since the 1890s, but since the old days, Moulton Farm has gotten the job done; that’s why they’ve been such a popular place for locals every summer. 

“It’s a diverse farm offering quality produce, prepared meals, freshly baked breads, pies and cookies while providing exceptional customer service,” he says.

A robust basket of precut zinnias are ready for picking.

Though last year’s harvest had some bumps and bruises weather-wise, this year’s searing heat is leading to a bumper crop, Mills says.

“It’s been a very good growing season. We are able to irrigate and we have been doing that a lot this year. Sun was hard to come by last year. We can always add water; we can’t take it away. We will take a dry year like this over last year any day,” Mills says. 

For example, a July news post on their website reveals they’ve already started picking corn, and it’s one of the earliest seasons in their record books. 

“The corn we are picking now doesn’t have that ‘super sweet’ sugar content that the later season varieties have, but it performs well in the cold start of April, has a decently sized ear, and still provides sweetness and the flavor that only fresh corn can provide,” Mills writes. “The best thing about our corn season is that the corn only gets better as the season progresses.”

Other top crops at Moulton Farm have been beans, both yellow and green; field tomatoes; and a broad variety of peppers, including shishito, jalapeno, cubanelle and green bell peppers, according to Mills’ post. They boast 14 varieties of corn, so you’re sure to find exactly your taste.

Robust stalks of corn aren’t just great for the kitchen table; they’re also excellent as tall concealing walls for the corn maze that Moulton Farm is planning to open Sept. 21, but more details, like this year’s design, are under wraps as of this printing.

“Our corn maze has been planted and the design has been finished.  I can’t quite give that away yet,” Mills says. 

At their farm bakery, they sell apple pies, cookies, rolls and breads, including Moulton’s Signature Harvest Loaf. Their garden center offers various heirloom varieties of tomatoes, pumpkins and melons — the juicy, tender kind that are synonymous with New Hampshire summers on the farm.

Another healthy crop of potatoes is in the books

At their garden center, visitors can find organic seeds and seed-starting supplies, soil and soil amendments and mulches, and also offer planting services. Some flowers and herbs, shrubs, perennials and fruit trees at Moulton Farm have been acclimated to the climate and soil conditions of the Lakes Region; some varieties for sale are ones that staff likes to personally use at their own home. 

In addition, the farm has gone mobile with its new food truck, dubbed “Moulton’s Hay Wagon.” The Hay Wagon doesn’t just serve items made from veggies grown on the farm, but also makes sandwiches that have roots in other parts of the world. 

For example, their Banh Mi sandwich is made with lemongrass-marinated grilled chicken, jalapeno, pickled carrots and daikon. For a more traditional palate, they also serve “Sunday brunch,” fish and chips, turkey melts and more. Wash it all down with an old-fashioned drink like Squamscott soda and Nixie flavored seltzer water, and your summer visit to the farm is complete. 

Given that it’s been such a plentiful summer for local farms, apple picking, pumpkin picking and every other activity that comes with fall in New Hampshire should be spectacular.

“In addition to our farm market being open daily and offering a large variety of apples, pumpkins and fall ornamentals, our corn maze will open Sept. 21. We will offer tractor or horse-drawn carriage rides to the pick-your-own-pumpkin patch,” Mills says.

The farm offers both great food and entertainment.

“We will have music on most weekends,” Mills says. ” Of course, our Hay Wagon food truck will be serving hot lunch as well, plus the cider donuts from Cider Bellies Doughnuts is always a hit.”  moultonfarm.com