The History of Georgia Peaches

No state is better known for its peaches than Georgia, and fresh fruit lovers everywhere continue to have the Peach State forever on their mind.

The peach industry in Georgia actually dates back almost 450 years! It’s remained a perennial part of Georgia culture and identity through all the years since.

Simple Beginnings In America’s Earliest Times

The beginnings of the Georgia peach tradition begin just below the state’s southern boundary, in St. Augustine Florida. But in 1571, Franciscan monks planted the state’s own first trees on St. Simons and Cumberland islands. Over the next 150 years, the eye-appealing tree with its sweet juicy taste became a favorite crop among the native Cherokees. Settlers from Europe also began to appreciate how the sturdy trees perfectly suited the region’s varied climate.

The Peach Industry Blossoms

The exporting of Georgia peaches to other parts of the country began just before the American Civil War. Raphael Moses, a planter in Columbus, became the first farmer to market and ship peach crops outside of the South. Moses had the ingenious idea of packaging clusters of peaches inside champagne baskets to heighten their visual presentation. Peaches were previously shipped in powdered charcoal, but the insulated baskets helped preserve their freshness and flavor.

Georgia peaches first reached New York sometime between 1858 and 1860, traveling north by wagon, shallow boat, and finally by steamship from Augusta and other Georgia marketplaces. They slowly made their way to other parts of the country, spreading wider and faster as railroad travel helped them arrive while still fresh enough to savor.

Even as the South’s economy struggled during Reconstruction (and despite the widespread devastation Georgia experienced during the war), peach farming flourished throughout the late 19^th and early 20^th Centuries. In 1928, Georgia farmers produced a record harvest of eight million bushels. In time the peach became the state’s unofficial symbol and standard – peaches appear everywhere, including the state’s distinctive orange and green license plates.

The Modern Peach Industry

The heyday of the 1920s has cooled somewhat – today Georgia farmers produce 2.6 million bushels each year. All the same, the fruit remains a fresh and inviting choice for anyone who enjoys a sweet fruit that’s rich in vitamins and minerals.