Georgia peach loadings from the Fort Valley area have been ongoing for several weeks, but heaviest volume is expected to start in mid June.
The harvest started about 10 days earlier than usual due to exceptionally dry weather in March and April. However, that has some growers saying this is the tastiest crop they have ever produced.
Genuine Georgia, a marketing arm for the state’s peach growers, reports shipments should continue through August.
Around June 10 – 12, the first Freestone peaches will come off the trees and that’s when volume really takes off, Genuine Georgia notes. From then on, availability of these varieties will be plentiful, signifying the peak of the Georgia season. The Freestone varieties are known for pits separating effortlessly from the flesh.
Georgia peaches are shipped as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. They are also shipped into the eastern half of Canada with Toronto and Montreal being important markets. Peaches are currently also in season in California and South Carolina.