Georgia Peaches Have A Rich History
The term ‘Georgia Peaches’ calls to mind warm summer days, sweet juicy fruit and special summer treats. But for historians, there’s much more to Georgia peaches than just a sweet taste. Truth is, Georgia peaches have only been commercially grown since the mid 1800s. But to fully understand what a treasure they are, we must first take a look at the origins of the peach.
It may be hard to believe, but the peach as we know it today has its origins in ancient China. Numerous manuscripts, some dating back to 1100 BC, have revealed details on the cultivation of peaches. From China the peach was brought to India and Western Asia and by 300 BC, cultivation of peaches had spread to Persia and Greece. Alexander the Great was responsible for introducing the fruit into Europe after he conquered the Persians. The peach was widely accepted and well known to the Romans by the first century AD. In fact, fragments of wall paintings featuring peaches dating back to the first century have been discovered in the Mount Vesuvius area.
Peaches were on the move again with Spanish explorers who first took them to the Americas in the 1500s. Then it was on to England and France in the 1600s. English horticulturist George Minifie supposedly brought peaches to the Virginia colony and Thomas Jefferson had peaches at Monticello. However, Georgia peaches trace their roots not north, but south.
When the Spanish brought peaches to the Americas, one of the places they were planted was in St. Augustine, Florida. From there, Franciscan monks introduced them to the colonies in St. Simons Island and Cumberland Island, Georgia in the late 1500s. Fast-forward to the 1700s and the Cherokee Indians were planting both peaches and plums in the Georgia and Carolina areas.
Georgia peaches owe their popularity, however, to a man named Raphael Moses. Moses was a planter and an officer in the Confederate army. Prior to the war (in the 1850s), he began to market peaches outside of Georgia and was the first person to successfully do so. His success is largely attributed to his innovative shipping technique. Moses used champagne baskets to ship his peaches rather than the pulverized charcoal that was popular at the time. This shipping method better preserved the flavor of the fruit. Once people outside of Georgia got a taste of those sweet peaches, there was no going back – Georgia peaches were here to stay!
Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves
At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.
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