Thoughts About Peaches

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I am a peach snob. I admit it. I can only eat our fabulous, fresh, tree ripened peaches. Juicy, sweet. I usually eat the ones with a little bruise on them that don’t sell. I cut one open and eat the whole thing. It is because I am a peach snob that we do not carry other peaches in the farm market once our peach season is done. It’s why I say, “eat local.”
But let’s face it. It’s a long time between the end of September (the end of peach season) and the end of June (when peaches start again). Nine months in fact. Sometimes the longing for a taste of summer is overwhelming.  A South American peach in February just does not come close to what I want.

And hurray, there is a solution! Our good friend, Rebecca, cans a lot of peaches for us. A lot.  And she uses hardly any sugar, just enough to keep the peaches from discoloring. They are delicious. Amazing. Stunning.  They taste like summer peaches because they are summer peaches. And they taste like peaches, not sugar.  There are some peaches in a light honey-syrup, for those avoiding sugar. And we love these peaches, too.


A big reason why we revere our peaches is the place they hold in our family history. Peaches symbolize the resilience of my grandparents in overcoming disaster.
Here is how my grandfather, John Webster described it:

“In 1934, Rachel and I walked out into the big orchard, found one Belle of Georgia peach—we broke it in half and ate the entire crop. 1935 was almost as bad—same low temperature (-15 degrees) that winter, but a very few baskets of peaches. 1936 I had worked hard bringing the orchard back and had a splendid crop in prospect. We had a 3-day hurricane and lost the fruit. Only a few remained on the trees and the wind had blown all the peach fuzz off. …Three years in a row was a bitter pill for us. We had three small children at the time.”

Fortunately, John and Rachel Webster persevered, survived, and thrived. I am fortunate that I was able to help my grandfather plant more peach trees.

Peaches hold a special place in my heart. And in my taste buds. This is what helps me get through winter--the promise of another summer and the promise of more peaches.  Are you ready for a taste of summer? We have it right here!




www.HighlandOrchardsFarmMarket.com



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