For those of you living in Colorado, you’ll know that there can be slim pickings when it comes to the local summer fruit selection. That is to say except for that glorious month and a half when Colorado’s grocery stores and farmers’ markets are overrun with juicy, delicious, and mouth watering peaches! Close to the Colorado River and surrounded by cliffs, Palisade, CO is known as the Peach Capital of the state and is world-famous for its excellent fruit harvest. Typically, the season begins mid-July and lasts until the end of August but I touched base with High Country Orchards – a family owned and operated orchard – and learned that this year’s harvest is running about 10 days behind normal. We can expect to see High Country peaches at local Whole Foods, Tony’s Markets and a few other grocers beginning today and lasting until about mid-September. So, get to the stores people and fill up on this delicious stone fruit before the season ends!
- How to Pick: Peaches should have a rich and aromatic smell and won’t ripen much after being picked from the tree. Unless you like your peaches firm, then you should choose a peach that has a little give to it when gentle pressure is applied. If the peach is the same shade of yellow around the stem area as it is on the rest of the peach it’s ready to eat! Avoid peaches with a green tint as these are not yet ripe.
- How to Store: Peaches should be stored in a cool place but not in a refrigerator as this slows or stops the ripening and sweetening of a peach. If a peach has completely ripened and you would like to eat it a few days later, it can be placed in the refrigerator as a last resort.
- How to Use: Peaches are quite the versatile fruit. You can eat them fresh or frozen, or make them into salsa, jam or bake them into pies!
- Recipe Ideas: I like to throw sliced peaches in with my yogurt for a refreshing breakfast. For a twist on a classic try out Bon Apetit’s Peach Pie with Peach Pie with Pecan Streusel. Peaches hold up well on the grill too so tune in Friday as I share my spinach salad topped with grilled peaches, goat cheese and balsamic glaze.
- Fun Fact: Peaches originated from China and are a part of the Rose family.
- For the Coloradoan’s: If you’re a peach fanatic, then check out the Palisade Peach Festival where you can visit local peach orchards including High Country!
Sources: High Country Orchards, Palisade Chamber of Commerce, Wikipedia
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I didn’t know that peaches wouldn’t ripen much after being picked. Thanks Jacqueline, I look forward to the spinach salad recipe!
This salad is fabulous! I’ll be making it again for Book Club-so you know it’s good. Thank you for the addition to My Favorite Recipe Collection.
We’ve had this salad three times in the past few weeks and it’s fantastic? It’s a keeper when the peaches are ripe for picking here in Colorado.
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