Fresh-picked fruit, warm cider donuts, and a basket you get to fill yourself—what’s not to love?
Belltown Hill Orchards in South Glastonbury turns an ordinary day into a delicious farm adventure, with seasonal fruit waiting to be picked straight from the fields.
The fun changes with the calendar. One visit might mean filling your basket with juicy summer fruit, while another brings crisp apples, pumpkins, and that unmistakable feeling that fall has officially arrived.
Don’t feel like picking?
The farm market has plenty to tempt you, from freshly harvested produce to baked goodies that can make walking past the bakery downright difficult.
With roots dating back to 1910, Belltown Hill Orchards offers a taste of old-fashioned farm life with plenty of reasons to come hungry, leave happy, and start planning your next visit.
A Family Farm With More Than a Century of History
Belltown Hill Orchards started back in 1910, and the Preli family has kept it running ever since. Over a hundred years of farming experience sits behind every apple tree and berry patch on this property.
What began as a small operation has grown into one of South Glastonbury’s larger working orchards, producing everything from cherries to pumpkins.
The farm spreads across rolling hills that give visitors plenty of space to explore during harvest season. Fields dedicated to different crops mean something new is always ripening.
The Preli family has worked hard to maintain traditions while updating equipment and practices to meet modern standards.
Walking through the orchard, you can still feel the history in the older trees and the careful layout of the land. This isn’t a theme park version of farm life.
It’s a real agricultural operation that happens to welcome guests who want to see where their food comes from and take part in the harvest themselves.
Pick Your Own Fruit Changes With the Seasons
Planning a visit means checking what’s actually ready to pick, because availability shifts throughout the year. Weather patterns, growing conditions, and natural ripening cycles all determine when each crop opens for picking.
One week might offer blueberries, while a month later, it’s all about apples.
The farm has offered cherries, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, raspberries, apples, and pumpkins during past seasons. Not everything will be available every year or at the same time.
Heavy rain or an early frost can change the schedule quickly, so flexibility helps when planning your trip.
Calling ahead saves disappointment if you’re hoping for a specific fruit. The staff can tell you what’s open for picking that day and how long the current crop might last.
Some fruits have short windows, while others hang around for weeks. Checking the farm’s updates before you drive over ensures you won’t arrive to find the strawberries already gone for the season.
Summer Is Prime Time for Berries and Stone Fruits
When temperatures climb and school lets out, the orchard transforms into a summer fruit paradise. Blueberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, and raspberries can all make appearances depending on the year.
Each fruit brings its own flavor and picking experience, from delicate raspberries to sturdy peach branches.
Picking your own beats buying pre-packaged fruit in several ways. You choose exactly which berries or peaches make it into your basket based on ripeness and appearance.
Kids learn where food actually grows instead of just seeing it on grocery shelves. The fruit tastes better when it’s just been pulled from the plant, too.
Summer picking works best in the morning before the sun gets too intense. Bring containers that won’t crush delicate berries, and wear sunscreen since you’ll be out in open fields.
The satisfaction of eating fruit you picked yourself, maybe still warm from the sun, makes the effort worthwhile every single time.
Fall Brings Apple Picking and Pumpkin Season
Autumn in New England means apple season, and Belltown Hill delivers on that classic experience. Apples typically arrive later in the growing calendar, giving visitors a reason to return after summer fruit wraps up.
Different varieties ripen at different times, extending the season and offering choices from tart to sweet.
Pumpkins join the lineup around September and stick around through October. Families hunting for jack-o-lantern material or pie ingredients can wander the pumpkin patches looking for the perfect size and shape.
The combination of apple picking and pumpkin hunting makes fall the busiest time at the orchard.
Cooler weather makes wandering through the trees more comfortable than summer picking. The changing leaves add color to the hillsides, creating that postcard-perfect New England scenery.
Bringing home apples and pumpkins in the same trip gives you ingredients for pies, decorations for the porch, and memories of crunching through fallen leaves between the rows.
The Farm Market Is Worth a Stop Even If You Don’t Pick
Not everyone wants to spend hours in the fields, and that’s perfectly fine at Belltown Hill. The farm market sells fresh fruits and vegetables for people who prefer shopping to picking.
You still get farm-fresh quality without the work of harvesting it yourself.
Beyond basic produce, the market stocks specialty items that make the trip worthwhile. Fresh-baked pies, cookies, and other treats sit alongside apple cider and seasonal herbs.
The selection changes based on what’s growing and what’s been made fresh that week. Some visitors make regular stops just to see what new items have appeared.
Shopping at the market supports local agriculture while giving you access to produce picked at peak ripeness. The staff can answer questions about storage, preparation, and what’s particularly good that day.
You might discover vegetables or fruits you’ve never tried before, or find a new favorite variety of apple that doesn’t show up in regular grocery stores.
Save Room for the Bakery Favorites
Belltown Hill’s bakery has earned a reputation that extends beyond just being a nice addition to the farm. Those apple cider donuts, pies, and apple fritters get mentioned specifically when people talk about Glastonbury farm offerings.
Something about the combination of fresh fruit and skilled baking creates treats that keep people coming back.
The pies showcase whatever fruit is in season, from berry combinations in summer to classic apple when fall arrives. Each one uses produce from the farm, guaranteeing you’re tasting the freshest possible ingredients.
The cider donuts hit differently when you’re eating them steps away from the apple trees that contributed to the cider.
Apple fritters deserve their own mention because they’ve become something of a signature item. Crispy on the outside, tender inside, with actual apple pieces throughout.
Grabbing a bag to take home seems impossible to resist. Many visitors plan their trips specifically around picking up bakery items, knowing they won’t last long once other family members discover them.
Weekend Wagon Rides Add to the Orchard Experience
Climbing aboard a tractor-drawn wagon turns a simple farm visit into something more memorable, especially for younger kids. On weekends, these rides can transport visitors toward the pick-your-own fields while giving everyone a chance to see more of the property.
It’s the kind of detail that transforms a grocery run into an actual outing.
The wagon rides work particularly well for families with small children who might tire out walking long distances. Instead of trudging from the parking area to distant fields, you ride through the orchard and get dropped closer to where you want to pick.
Parents appreciate the break, while kids enjoy the novelty of farm-style transportation.
Beyond the practical aspect, the wagon rides add atmosphere that you can’t get at a supermarket. The rumble of the tractor, the view from the wagon bed, and the chance to spot different crops along the way all contribute to the experience.
It’s these extra touches that make a trip to Belltown Hill feel like more than just shopping.
There Is More Than Fruit to Shop For
Fruit might be the main attraction, but the vegetable selection rounds out your shopping options considerably. Sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins all make appearances depending on the season.
Fresh herbs add flavor to home cooking that dried versions from the spice aisle can’t match.
The farm also carries products like honey and apple cider when available. These items complement the fresh produce and give you more reasons to stop by even when you’re not planning to pick.
Finding locally produced honey means supporting both the farm and the beekeepers who help pollinate all those fruit trees.
Shopping for a mix of fruits and vegetables in one location saves time compared to hitting multiple farm stands. You can plan whole meals around what’s currently available, letting the seasons guide your cooking instead of forcing out-of-season ingredients.
The quality of vine-ripened tomatoes or just-picked corn makes a noticeable difference in how your meals taste, turning simple recipes into something special.
A Good Destination for Families and Seasonal Day Trips
Belltown Hill combines multiple activities into one location, which makes trip planning easier for families. You can pick fruit, shop the market, grab baked treats, and spend time outdoors without driving to separate destinations.
Kids burn energy walking through fields while adults actually accomplish some grocery shopping, which counts as a win for everyone.
The seasonal nature of the farm creates built-in reasons to return throughout the year. Summer visits look completely different from fall trips, with new crops and different experiences each time.
This variety keeps the destination fresh rather than feeling like you’re doing the exact same thing every visit.
An hour or two at the orchard provides a manageable outing that doesn’t require elaborate planning or a huge time commitment. You’re close enough to home that you’re not packing for an expedition, but far enough from daily routines to feel like you’ve actually gone somewhere.
The combination of practical shopping and enjoyable activities makes it easy to justify the trip.
What to Know Before You Go
Before heading out, gather the practical details that will make your visit smoother. The farm sits at 483 Matson Hill Road in South Glastonbury, Connecticut 06073.
Their phone number is 860-633-2789, and calling ahead is strongly recommended, especially if you’re targeting a specific fruit.
The farm market currently operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick-your-own hours are listed as Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
However, PYO availability changes daily based on weather and crops.
There’s no general admission fee for picking areas. Most fruit is priced by the pound, though cherries use an admission and bag system.
The farm accepts cash, credit, debit, and Apple Pay, but not checks. Dogs and other pets aren’t allowed anywhere on the property.
The single best tip is checking current picking conditions before leaving home rather than relying on seasonal estimates, since availability can change overnight.