How to Pick a Peach

— Written By and last updated by Elisabeth Purser
en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.


Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.


English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Picking a Peach, Peaches, NC Peaches, SC Peaches, Georgia Peaches, How Do You Know When a Peach is Ripe, Ripe Peaches, Farmers Market Peaches, Growers Market,July is here and that means it’s time for peaches. There is nothing better than standing in an orchard and biting into a freshly picked ripe peach. You can’t beat that sweet, juicy taste! The best-tasting peach is the one picked just as it becomes ripe on the tree. That is fine for those who have their own fruit trees or access to a local orchard, but what about those of us who get our fruit at the market? 

You too, can enjoy these fresh summer flavors, if you know how to judge the ripeness of fruit. The key to determining the ripeness of a piece of fruit is the color. Look at the background color, not the reddest part of the fruit. If the fruit is still on the tree, the side in the shade has the background color. It should be yellow if you want to eat the fruit immediately. 

Those who want to extend the fresh-picked season can pick the fruit when the background color is greenish-yellow. At this stage peaches can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. The fruit will not ripen in the refrigerator. To complete the ripening process, you will need to let them sit at room temperature for four or five days – until they soften.

The same is true for store-bought fruit. Look for the best background color: yellow for immediate eating and greenish-yellow to let it ripen at home. If the fruit you see in the store is green, it probably will not ripen correctly for high-quality eating. 

When buying peaches, buy the greenish-yellow ones. Leave as many pieces out at room temperature as you will eat during the course of a day or two and refrigerate the rest. After a couple of days take a few pieces out of the refrigerator to ripen at room temperature. 

For a host of peach recipes visit the North Carolina Peach Growers Society website. 

What’s happening in your garden? How are your plants standing up to heat? Join the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers of Union County at the Teaching Garden for a Walk & Talk on July 14 at 6 p.m. We will walk through the garden to see what is happening & take a look at the statewide ongoing Basil Downy Mildew research trial we are participating in. Meet up at the greenhouse at: 

Union County Agriculture Center

3230 Presson Rd, Monroe, NC 28112