Are Georgia Peaches the Best?

Summertime is about to start and the season of mouth-watering peaches is to begin in conjunction with this fun-filled time of the year.

The south boasts some of the best peaches you can ever find; fuzzy fruits with the right balance of sugar to acid ratio. If you eat sweet peaches during the peak season you will be amazed by the taste of this wonderful fruit and the sweet juice that may flow down your chin.

The Southern Gentleman

Many southern states produce peaches, but the real title-holders are the peaches from Georgia. Yes it is true that other states produce more peaches each year but take one bite into a Georgia peach and you will taste the difference in quality and flavor. Georgia peaches always come out the winner.

So what makes them so much better that their neighboring competitors?

There are a few variables that determine what kind of peach graces your hand, drenches your chin and taste exactly like a midsummer night?s dream. Rain, humidity, and a unique mix of heat and soil all play a part. Another factor is the short time from when the fruit is harvested from the tree until the time it reaches you. Georgia peaches are blessed to have all these. The state of Georgia has red clay soil, perfect weather, and moderate humidity to produce the sweetest, juiciest, and most flavorful peaches.

Types of Peaches

Georgia peaches are available from May to August, and are in peak season during July. During this 4-month period there are 3 major types: cling stones, semi-freetones, and freestones.

• Clingstones are yellow or white fleshed peach varieties with flesh tightly adhered to the pits. Because of the hassle in separating the flesh from the pit, you would need to cut away the flesh from the pit using a knife. Clingstone peaches are best for baking, canning and preserving. They tend to be softer, juicier and sweeter.
• Semifreestone peaches are varieties with flesh somewhat difficult to separate from the pit. This type of early season peach is great for eating out of hand, baking, freezing and pickling.
• Freestone peaches are typically available late in the season and tend to be larger and contains more juice, making the flesh easier to detach from the pit. Freestone peaches are great for eating out of hand, tossing in salads, pickling, and grilling. Those that you find in grocery stores and fruit stands are typically freestone peaches.

White and Yellow Peaches

Most of the peaches grown in the United States are yellow-fleshed peaches. They tend to be tangier than the white ones.

On the other hand Asia favors white fleshed peaches which are sweeter due to lower acid ratio. Furthermore, white flesh peaches tend to be smoother and more succulent than their yellow counterpart, so expect them to be a bit pricier than the yellow-fleshed peaches.

Gifting

If you are thinking about sending peach gifts to family and friends this summer make sure that you get fresh peaches for sale from credible peach growers. Choose a company who has been around for generations as they have been in the industry longer than the others and know the best practices in the business. If you transact with a trustworthy company you are guaranteed to receive fresh, top of the line, sweet Georgia peaches worthy of their name and origin.