About Us

Carlson Orchards was founded in 1936 by Walter and Eleanor Carlson. In the thirties and forties, they made their living from a diversified farm of chickens, cows, potatoes and apples. In the late sixties, the farm specialized in fruits with apples being the main crop. The Carlsons are dedicated to growing the best tree fruits, blueberries, raspberries, and pumpkins.

Carlson Orchards now grows fruit on 100 acres producing:

  • 30,000 bushels of apples
  • 5,000 baskets of peaches and nectarines
  • 50 year old blueberry patch
  • Raspberries
  • Sweet cherries

Today Bruce, Frank and Robert Carlson, the three proud sons of Walter & Eleanor, are dedicated to maintaining their family’s fine reputation and the great tradition of high quality apple and apple products that was born over 83 years ago.

The Carlson Family has been making fresh apple cider for about as long as they’ve had apples to pick. But when the cider business outgrew what the orchard could handle, the Carlson brothers turned to New England Apple Products, a trusted, local family company with over 150 years of cider making experience, to press and bottle the orchard’s fresh, sweet apple cider. Steve and Dave Rowse of New England Apple Products moved the cider operation to Leominster, Massachusetts (3 miles from Johnny Appleseed’s birthplace!), where the Rowse brothers continue the same high level of care and quality for pressing and bottling Carlson’s sweet cider.

All of our sweet cider is made from only the freshest apples available and is:

  • 100% real apples
  • All-natural and pasteurized
  • Made with no preservatives or additives
  • Naturally sweet, with no added sugar

Flash pasteurization of our cider enables us to continue to produce and sell the highest quality of apple cider. When you see the Carlson Orchards label, you can be sure that it’s the same delicious, high-quality cider that you and your family have come to know and love. Our products are sold and distributed to many large and small food stores, restaurants, farm stands, and other locations across New England.