August is National Peach Month!
Of course it is—August is when peaches are at peak flavor and abundance. Peaches are a favorite crop of ours for many reasons, the most important of which is the fabulous flavor! We are grateful for those long-ago explorers who brought peaches from China, where they have been cultivated for over 6000 years. From China to Persia to Rome to Africa and Europe, to South America to England to North America, the peach has gotten around! So glad peaches wound up in our area. Peaches are part of our family lore, symbolizing determination and overcoming difficulties. When my grandfather, John Webster, had peach crop failures 3 years in a row during the Depression in the 1930s, he continued to farm. He renovated the orchards, tended the trees, and finally had a good crop in the 4 th year. But what a difficult time that must have been for the whole family. We still love peaches! But peaches are a big reason why we have a variety of crops, because we know from experience that