News: Media Kits: Georgia Agricultural Resources

Peaches

Peaches have long been a Georgia trademark and are now the state's official fruit.

They were first grown in Georgia during the colonial period of the 1700s.

After the Civil War, Georgia growers developed several hardy peach varieties. The new varieties boosted the commercial peach industry and made Georgia the "Peach State."

The first peaches grown in Georgia were the Elberta variety. In the late 1800s, the Elberta was highly successful on the northern markets because of its exceptional color, size and quality.

In addition to the good ol' Elberta, Georgia now produces more than 40 commercial varieties of peaches which are divided into two general categories: freestone and clingstone. The fruit of the freestone peach readily breaks away from the stone or pit, while the clingstone adheres to the pit.

Fresh Georgia peaches are available only 16 weeks each year, from mid-May to August.

Georgia has two commercial peach-growing regions. The central region is the largest with about 70 percent of the peach trees and 83 percent of the state's production. The southern region has about 23 percent of the trees and produces 17 percent of the state's harvest.

Although Georgia is called the Peach State, it actually ranks third in United States peach production behind California and South Carolina.

In 2001, the Georgia peach crop totaled 140 million pounds and brought in $35 million.

 

More Information

To learn about the Georgia peach industry, contact:

• Georgia Peach Council
  Phone: 478/956-6418
• Georgia Commodity Commission for Peaches
  Marcia Crowley, Director
  Phone: 404/656-3678
  
• Georgia Peaches
• Peaches and Nectarines Home Orchard
• Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

 

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