Sneak Peek of the 2015 Georgia Peach Season … News Update …

 

2015 Season Preview Of Georgia Peaches

FORT VALLEY, GA – The 2015 Georgia Peach season is expected to be outstanding. This year’s extended winter chill hours were optimum as the orchards received up to 1,200 hours under 40 degrees. Plenty of “beauty rest” combined with expected searing hot summertime temperatures in the mid-to-high 90s, has created the perfect mix for some of the most flavorful, sweet Georgia Peaches yet. Growers expect to see the first arrival of this quintessential summertime fruit the week of May 18th. Varieties including the Flavorich around Memorial Day all the way to the August Prince in late August plan to delight retailers around the country and shoppers who anticipate Georgia Peaches and know that Summer has arrived, with the first taste of Sweet Georgia Peaches. “We’re so fortunate to have inherited the land that our great-great-grandfathers planted in Georgia over 140 years ago. The geography always produces the most flavorful, juicy peaches,” notes Duke Lane III, president of the Georgia Peach Council. “Combined with an optimum number of chill hours, the ridiculously hot expected summer temperatures are helping this season shape up to look like one of the sweetest.” The farms stretch across 10,000 acres famously known as the Fort Valley Plateau. It is here where 90% of Georgia Peaches are grown, accounting for superior quality peaches. Consistent temperatures, mineral-rich red clay soils and high humidity are perfect ingredients for super-sweet peaches. With more than 140 years of farming Georgia peaches, the land itself has helped Georgia earn the title the “Peach State”. The obsession for freshness is another factor in having sweet, flavorful peaches each season. With the vast majority of fruit being picked, packed and shipped in the same day, Georgia Peaches are as ripe as they can be from farm-to-table. Versatility is the focus of the 2015 Georgia Peach season. A library of recipes with colorful photography is featured on the Georgia Peach Council’s website (www.gapeaches.org) sharing everything from peach smoothies for breakfast to peach caprese salad and grilled peaches over summertime Grouper. There are also desserts and preserves for those who have taken up the old-time favorite – ‘canning’ peaches. Georgia is known throughout the world for its famous mouth-watering peaches. Each year, the state produces more than 80 million pounds of the fruit between mid-May – mid-August. Delicious and nutritious, Georgia peaches are high in fiber and vitamins, A, C, and potassium. For more information, facts and to browse our recipe gallery, go to www.gapeaches.org, Like us on Facebook at SweetGeorgiaPeaches, follow us on Twitter @GAPeachCouncil and Instagram @GAPeachCouncil.

 

Georgia peaches should ship week of May 18

Georgia peaches should begin shipping the week of May 18. Abundant winter chill hours and an expected hot summer should mean excellent quality this season, according to a news release from the Fort Valley-based Georgia Peach Council. Georgia orchards received as many as 1,200 chill hours this winter — hours when the temperature was below 40 degrees, according to the council. In addition, temperatures are expected to hit the mid- to high 90s this summer. “Combined with an optimum number of chill hours, the ridiculously hot expected summer temperatures are helping this season shape up to look like one of the sweetest,” Duke Lane III, president of the council and vice president of sales for Fort Valley-based Lane Southern Orchards, said in the release. Flavorich peaches are expected to begin shipping from Georgia near Memorial Day. Recipes and other information can be found at the council’s website,

 

Season preview of Georgia peaches

Weather was on the side of Georgia peach growers this year, and the Georgia Peach Council said it expects quality of the crop to be outstanding. Growers anticipate seeing the first arrival of fruit the week of May 18. Varieties include the Flavorich, which will start around Memorial Day, all the way to the August Prince in late August.IMG 0478 Weather has been on the side of Georgia peach growers so far this year. Each year, Georgia produces more than 80 million pounds of the fruit from mid-May to mid-August, and the vast majority of fruit is picked, packed and shipped the same day. “We’re so fortunate to have inherited the land that our great-great-grandfathers planted in Georgia over 140 years ago,” Duke Lane III, president of the Georgia Peach Council, said in a press release. “The geography always produces the most flavorful, juicy peaches. Combined with an optimum number of chill hours, the ridiculously hot expected summer temperatures are helping this season shape up to look like one of the sweetest.” Ninety percent of Georgia Peaches are grown in a 10,000-acre area known as the Fort Valley Plateau. Consistent temperatures, mineral-rich red clay soils and high humidity lead to super-sweet peaches. With more than 140 years of farming Georgia peaches, the land itself has helped Georgia earn the title the “Peach State.” Versatility is the focus of the 2015 Georgia peach season. A library of recipes with colorful photography is featured on the Georgia Peach Council’s website, sharing everything from peach smoothies for breakfast to peach caprese salad and grilled peaches over summertime Grouper.

 

Georgia Peaches Thrive in the Winter Chill

FORT VALLEY, GA – After a tumultuous winter season nation-wide, Georgia is looking to make the summer of 2015 a peachy one. Georgia Peach season is approaching, and the company stated the produce responded well to being exposed to 1,200 hours under 40 degrees, reportedly yielding some sweet results. “We’re so fortunate to have inherited the land that our great-great-grandfathers planted in Georgia over 140 years ago. The geography always produces the most flavorful, juicy peaches,” Duke Lane III, President of the Georgia Peach Council, said in a press release. “Combined with an optimum number of chill hours, the ridiculously hot expected summer temperatures are helping this season shape up to look like one of the sweetest.” After a well-rested stretch of “beauty sleep” weather, the company says that the sweltering heat that approaches will be the perfect combination for the peaches. According to the release, growers are anticipating the first wave of the “quintessential summertime fruit” to be here the week of May 18. Coming varieties include the Flavorich, due to arrive around Memorial Day, all the way through to the August Prince which will arrive in late August. Retailers around the country and shoppers who anticipate Georgia Peaches will have their first bite soon.

 

Outstanding season expected for Georgia peaches

The 2015 Georgia Peach season is expected to be outstanding. This year’s extended winter chill hours were optimum as the orchards received up to 1,200 hours under 40 degrees. Plenty of “beauty rest” combined with expected searing hot summertime temperatures in the mid-to-high 90s, has created the perfect mix for some of the most flavorful, sweet Georgia Peaches yet. Growers expect to see the first arrival of this quintessential summertime fruit the week of May 18th. Varieties including the Flavorich around Memorial Day all the way to the August Prince in late August plan to delight retailers around the country and shoppers who anticipate Georgia Peaches and know that Summer has arrived, with the first taste of Sweet Georgia Peaches. “We’re so fortunate to have inherited the land that our great-great-grandfathers planted in Georgia over 140 years ago. The geography always produces the most flavorful, juicy peaches,” notes Duke Lane III, president of the Georgia Peach Council. “Combined with an optimum number of chill hours, the ridiculously hot expected summer temperatures are helping this season shape up to look like one of the sweetest.” The farms stretch across 10,000 acres famously known as the Fort Valley Plateau. It is here where 90% of Georgia Peaches are grown, accounting for superior quality peaches. Consistent temperatures, mineral-rich red clay soils and high humidity are perfect ingredients for super-sweet peaches. With more than 140 years of farming Georgia peaches, the land itself has helped Georgia earn the title the “Peach State”. The obsession for freshness is another factor in having sweet, flavorful peaches each season. With the vast majority of fruit being picked, packed and shipped in the same day, Georgia Peaches are as ripe as they can be from farm-to-table.

 

US (SC): Cold spell caused marginal damage to peaches

The last weekend of March, temperatures as low as 27 ⁰F hit the Ridge Spring area in South Carolina and affected some of the area’s peach crop. “Damage is most significant in the lower lying sections of our orchards as that is where colder air settles,” said Chalmers Carr with Titan Farms. “In addition, we noticed that there are a couple of varieties of the 56 that we have in production that are affected more so than the others. These are the early maturing varieties that are harvested in June. In general, the damage on our farm is expected to be less than 10 percent of our crop overall.”

To prepare for the freeze, Titan Farms applied an important horticultural practice, which is clean orchard floors. Bare dirt beneath the tree releases heat, whereas a vegetated floor attracts colder temperatures. The company also utilized its irrigation system to apply water beneath the trees to provide additional heat release.

No supply gap

In general, Carr doesn’t think the freeze has caused a gap in this season’s supply. “We feel very good about the crop as we have only marginal damage,” he said. In the past, the South East has experienced freeze damage as late as April 23. However, when looking at the 10-14 day forecast, another freeze appears to be out of the question for this season. Nevertheless, weather-related concerns remain. “We are entering our storm season and worry about hail up until the early part of June,” Carr said. “The big difference between freeze and hail is that a freeze is often widespread while hail generally affects smaller, more localized areas.”

Titan Farms grows 5,000 acres of peaches, spread over 19 miles. The company is the largest peach grower on the East Coast, distributing its peaches across the United States and Canada. In addition, Titan is the only southeastern peach shipper to export into the newly open Mexico market. The majority of the peach crop however is shipped domestically, to the South, Midwest and the East Coast. Peaches make up 80 percent of Titan’s revenue. In addition, the company grows 450 acres of bell peppers and 350 acres of broccoli.

 

Georgia peaches should ship week of May 18

Georgia peaches should ship week of May 18

Florida increasing spring peach harvesting

DUNDEE, Fla. — Florida is entering the peak of its peach production as growers increase plantings and volume.

Frieda’s Angelcots to ship in June

Frieda’s Specialty Produce expects to begin shipping its Angelcot apricots in mid-June.