Peaches

History History Peaches have been grown since prehistoric times and were first cultivated in China. It is believed that Spaniards brought peaches to the United States, Central and South America. The Spanish missionairies planted the first peach trees in California. In the early 1800s, peaches began to be grown commercially in the United States and have been thriving ever since. Peaches Today Most peaches in the United States are grown in California, but they are also grown in other states such as South Carolina and Georgia. Pennsylvania, Washington, Michigan and New Jersey are also significant producers. In California alone there are more than 150 different varieties of peaches. Source: California Tree Fruit Association Peaches Farmers Gerawan Farming Gerawan Farming has been family owned and operated since 1938. More... Season, Ripeness and Storage State Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Arizona                         California                         In-Season   Season Peaches are available from May to October in most regions of the United States. Ripeness When selecting fresh peaches to bring home and ripen, look for peaches that show a background color of yellow or cream and have a fresh looking appearance. Just place them in a brown paper bag on your kitchen counter for 2 to 3 days to ripen. When selecting peaches that are ripe and ready to eat, look for ones that are soft to the touch and have a fragrant smell. When peaches are ripe, it's best to eat them right away. Storage If ripe peaches need to be stored, they can be placed in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.