More Summertime Goodies

Joined
Jan 23, 2004
Messages
5,717
Reaction score
12,977
Location
GA
When wife and I left Church this morning, we decided to ride by the (my family) farm, which is leased to a large fruit growing conglomerate. I knew there was an orchard that was about ready to pick, and sure enough, picking was going on when we got there. There were probably 25 bins of peaches, waiting to be transported to the packing house, and picking still going on. As it happened, the “boss,” formerly the owner of the huge local operation, now the manager of the peach growing part of the conglomerate, drove up about the time we did.

We talked awhile, and I told him we wanted to get a couple of boxes of peaches. He said sure either go pick them, or just get them out of a bin. They pay us very, very good money for the lease, and I would be perfectly willing to pay for them. He said, “Man, I manage 10,000 acres of peaches! I ain’t going to miss a few boxes.” Then he told us where the next two varieties will be getting ready (not on our property) and to help ourselves when they get ready.

Last year was the first year the peaches on our place were bearing. Somehow, I missed out on them. I didn’t really know what time they got ready, and got there too late for each variety. I plan to make up for that this year. Should have peaches for another month. Best of the season, too. This variety is Scarlet Prince. Next is Sun Prince, finally, Flame Prince. These are all what is called clear seed, or freestone, meaning the flesh of the peach separates from the seed.

Going to eat some, freeze some, and give some away. Going to ship some to my daughter’s in-laws, who own three hundred acres of orange trees. Good swap.
 

Attachments

  • 54F7BF51-06F1-4BF8-A9AE-05A0F53F9E98.jpg
    54F7BF51-06F1-4BF8-A9AE-05A0F53F9E98.jpg
    82.4 KB · Views: 50
  • 59BB3E00-6B96-4CB5-9136-B7EC64210063.jpg
    59BB3E00-6B96-4CB5-9136-B7EC64210063.jpg
    70.8 KB · Views: 41
  • 19CBB9CE-1C39-4F78-9EB4-F458A8D79C44.jpg
    19CBB9CE-1C39-4F78-9EB4-F458A8D79C44.jpg
    49.2 KB · Views: 41
Register to hide this ad
My grandpa had a small, somewhat neglected combination peach/apple orchard on one of the properties he share-cropped. We'd pick crates full and then spend hours peeling and slicing them. The peaches mostly got canned in mason jars, though at least one big kettle full would be made into peach butter. The apples all got made into apple butter.

A lot of work but there's nothing like home made peach or apple butter stirred with a wooden paddle, cooked in a copper kettle, over an oak fire.
 
I remember running around the peach orchard my granny had when I was a child. Most city folks don't know that peach fuzz, both on the peach and peach tree leaves will make you itch like you just rolled in some Owens Corning fiberglass insulation! I bet redlevel knows.
 
I remember running around the peach orchard my granny had when I was a child. Most city folks don't know that peach fuzz, both on the peach and peach tree leaves will make you itch like you just rolled in some Owens Corning fiberglass insulation! I bet redlevel knows.

Back in the late 50s-early 60s we had a peach grading line that included brushes that brushed the fuzz off the peaches. This fuzz would collect under the brushes. I would get a couple of my granny’s snuff cans and fill them with peach fuzz. Was great sport to take those cans of “itching powder” to school and drop a little down the backs of girls’ blouses.
 
This is the picture you recall. Made probably in 2014. One of the last times I was able to get her out. She was 95.

Those trees were near the end of their productive life then. They were uprooted shortly thereafter. The long-term lease was renewed, the land rested for a couple of years, then replanted. The new orchard just started bearing fruit last year.
 

Attachments

  • DE6A97CE-EDE9-4AC4-99C8-9E25C67FC6C1.jpg
    DE6A97CE-EDE9-4AC4-99C8-9E25C67FC6C1.jpg
    80.9 KB · Views: 33
What a big difference in weather and temperature from you to us over here in Nevada.
Our peaches are only the size of quarters right now, but there is lots of them this year.

I like fresh peaches but really enjoy a 9x13 cobbler, right ouy of the oven for my #1 pick.

Enjoy.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top