Peaches

Summer is peach season.. Georgia is often the first state that people think of when they think of peaches. After all Georgia is known as the Peach State. But the fact is Georgia doesn't even come close to being the biggest peach growing state.

Kay Rentzel, Executive Director of the National Peach Council recently spoke with USDA's Gary Crawford.

According to USDA , the top 10 peach-producing states in 2018 were, in order, California, South Carolina, New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, New York and West Virginia,

Number one, California, grows more peaches than the other 32 peach-growing states combined Typical harvest May through September

Colorado's famous for its Palisade Peaches. All peaches harvest from June to September. The prime locations for peach growing in Colorado are Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Montezuma counties. Peaches account for over 75% of fruit production in Colorado.

The Peach Council's Kay Rentzel says while we mostly think of pie, cobbler and jam.. Peaches are great on the grill, in soups and paired with pork.

The best time to buy Colorado peaches is between August and September. Choose peaches with fuzzy skins that are firm but yield to gentle pressure. They should be yellow-orange with some red blushing. White peaches should be off-white with a few areas of red blush. Peaches with green tint may not fully ripen. Peaches with blemishes or irregularities, referred to as seconds, are less expensive and good for canning, baking, or making preserves.

Peach Facts:

Georgia got its nickname "The Peach State" shortly after the Civil War. Georgia roduces more blueberries than peaches.

Peaches are grown in 47 states.

There more than 300 varieties of peaches that grow and flourish in the United States