By the New Jersey Department of Agriculture
(TRENTON) – The New Jersey Department of Agriculture projects its peach crop to be one of its largest in years.
“New Jersey’s crop of peaches are shaping up and will be available in abundance throughout the state,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “ We want produce retailers and buyers as well as consumers of Jersey Fresh produce to know that we anticipate having a plentiful supply of peaches.”
New Jersey is one of the nation’s top growers of peaches. In 2015, farmers grew 42.2 million pounds of peaches on 4,700 acres valued at $27.6 million. The 2017 peach crop is projected to produce between 55 and 60 million pounds of peaches on 5,500 acres, according to the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council.
“The New Jersey Peach crop is looking strong and healthy for all varieties within the fruit set,” said Francisco Allende, the general manager of Sunny Valley International, Inc., in Glassboro, N.J. “We expect this to be one of our better harvests in recent years.”
South Jersey
The beginning of peach season is expected to start in South Jersey in about week. It will gradually work its way northward. The first peach variety of New Jersey’s season is the Sentry. The crop then moves into the Gala and Flavorcrest varieties. The season finishes with the Loring and Red Haven varieties followed by the John Boy. New Jersey then moves into the Crest Haven variety season, which also includes the Gloria variety of peach, followed by Jersey Queen and Fayette varieties. The Encore and Laurol varieties will wrap up the season sometime in mid- to late-September, when the last of New Jersey’s peaches should be picked. White peaches are expected to begin shipping around the end of July and continue through mid-September.
“We are excited with the way our peaches look right now,” said Santo Maccherone, a peach grower who owns Circle M Farms in Salem, N.J. “Our crop has come along nicely and we have high expectations for quantity and quality.”
A half-cup sliced fresh peaches is just 30 calories and provides 10 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. Ripe peaches should be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to five days. Rinse peaches in cool water and dry before eating.