August in Peach Month in New Jersey!

In honor of New Jersey’s favorite summer fruit, the month of August is declared New Jersey Peach Month (August is also National Peach Month). Some of the best peaches in years are now abundant throughout the state at farms, farmers markets, supermarkets and restaurants. They come in several shapes and colors –yellow, white, doughnut and nectarines (actually fuzzless peaches).

Did you know that New Jersey is the fourth largest peach-producing state in the country? Not bad for a small state. Following are a few other peach facts that might surprise (more facts follow the peach event schedule):
New Jersey ranks 4th nationally for peach production, after California, South Carolina & Georgia.
of New Jersey’s peach crop is sold to the fresh market via supermarkets, farm markets, specialty produce stores, U-pick operations, community farmers markets. A small percentage is sold to restaurants and as value added processed products like peach cider, peach wine, jams, jellies, pies
Jersey peaches are shipped all over the eastern US and eastern Canada.
Jersey peaches are all picked by hand.
Jersey’s average peach production: 60 – 66 million pounds/30,000 – 33,000 tons.
Average total wholesale production value of New Jersey peaches is $30-35-million*
*(figures from USDA National Ag Statistics Service & USDA Agricultural Marketing Service)
*Peaches are grown & packed within 250 miles of 45-million consumers

The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council sponsors special peach events and a Perfect Peach Pie amateur baking contest, with two grand prizes of $300 each—one in south Jersey; one in north Jersey. Click HERE for upcoming events and amateur peach pie contests through August, celebrating the fruit throughout the state.

New Jersey’s fresh peach season	Late June through September
Total acreage in peach orchards	5,000 acres throughout the state.
Number NJ peach orchards	80 orchards
Where the orchards are	The southern district– Gloucester, Cumberland, Camden, Atlantic and Salem Counties– is the state’s major growing area. Gloucester County has the state’s most peach trees, but peach orchards are located throughout New Jersey. Farm markets and stands and pick-your own are located mainly in central, northern and western regions. There are also many of these in the southern part of the state. Several peach growers take their peaches to community farmers markets located in cities and towns in the tri-state area. Details are on www.jerseypeaches.com
Varieties of New Jersey peaches	100+ varieties ·Yellow- fleshed peaches comprise 84% of Jersey peaches ·White- fleshed peaches comprise 6% of Jersey peaches ·Yellow and white-fleshed nectarines comprise 9 % ·Something new Doughnut or flat peaches less than 1%·New varieties are regularly introduced for planting by the Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station Fruit Breeding Program
Long-standing most popular varieties	·Desiree, Sentry, John Boy, Flamin Fury PF 17, Flamin Fury PF 24-007, and Gloria long- most popular yellow-fleshed peaches. ·White Lady, still the Queen of low-acid white-fleshed peaches. ·Lady Nancy, the aromatic white fleshed peach.Easternglo, Flamin Fury PF 11, Redgold and Fantasia most popular yellow fleshed nectarines
Jersey Fresh Standards	To be labeled “Jersey Fresh,” peaches must be US Extra No. 1 grade, sized at least 2.25″ diameter.
Products from peaches	Fresh freestone peaches can also be used to produce peach cider, peach syrup, peach jam, peach salsa, peach preserves, peach jelly, peach ice cream, canned and frozen peaches and a wide variety of peach baked goods.
Labeling of peaches	‘Jersey Fresh Premium Peaches’ is a label of increasing importance and prestige. Twenty one peach shippers, located mainly in southern Jersey, use labels that include Jersey Fruit, Atlantic Sunrise, Top Crop, CircleM Fruit Farms, Holtzhauser Farms, Mood’s Orchard, Just Picked, Sun Valley Orchards, Melicks Town Farm, Nichols Orchard, Sunny Slope, Wm Schober,
Peach-related events	●New Jersey Peach Festival and Gloucester County 4-H Fair, last weekend in July. 2014 dates: July 24-27. 4-H Fairgrounds, 275 Bridgeton Pike (Route 77) Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 Details at http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu/fairfest/ ●Peach Parties -special peach-featured events at farmers markets, restaurants and supermarkets during July & August, Jersey Fresh Peach Month. ●Perfect Peach Pie contest for amateur bakers-at selected farmers markets, with two first prizes: one in south Jersey; one in north Jersey
Peach-related organizations	·New Jersey Peach Promotion Council, ·New Jersey Department of Agriculture, ·New Jersey Peach Festival Association, ·New Jersey State Horticultural Society, ·New Jersey Farm Bureau ·Rutgers Cooperative Extension at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, ·New Jersey Peach Council
Peach pests & controlling them	The biggest pest problem is brown rot. Additionally, chewing and sucking insects, birds, wood chuck and deer all compete with each other and damage peach fruit and foliage. Through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Practices, peach growers have significantly reduced both amounts and costs of pesticides needed to control pests.
Brief history of New Jersey peach industry	Since the 1600’s when the first peaches were grown from seeds, peaches have been produced in New Jersey. Today, New Jersey has approximately two million peach trees. New varieties of peaches and nectarines are extending the season both early and late. New Jersey soils and climate are ideal for maximum production of quality peaches.
New Jersey Peach Promotion Council	The New Jersey Peach Promotional Council is a non-profit voluntary organization of growers, shippers, wholesalers and associated industries dedicated to maintaining a viable peach industry in the Garden State through the orderly marketing and promotion of NJ peaches.

For further information, email the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council information office, info@jerseypeaches.com; or visit the website www.jerseypeaches.com Find jersey peaches on facebook.com/newjerseypeaches. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Peaches.

The New Jersey Peach Promotion Council is a non-profit voluntary organization of growers, shippers, wholesalers and associated industries dedicated to maintaining a viable peach industry in the Garden State for the purpose of preserving farmers and farmland; and to providing the highest quality and best tasting fresh peaches for consumers. New Jersey is the fourth largest peach producing state in the country, with approximately 75 orchards on 5,000 acres, producing 22,000-2,5000 tons, valued at approximately $30-million.

NJPPC grower members selling direct to consumers: Alstede Farms, Chester; Battleview Orchards, Freehold; Demarest Farms, Hillsboro; Eastmont Orchards, Colts Neck; Grasso Girls Farm Markets in, Mullica Hill and West Deptford; Fruit Valley Farms, Mullica Hill; Hauser Hill Farm, Old Bridge; Heilig Orchards, Mullica Hill; Holtzhauser Farms, Mullica Hill; Larchmont Farms, Elmer; Melick Town Farms, Califon and Oldwick; Moods Farm Market, Mullica Hill; Pastore Orchards, Hammonton; Ripple Hill Farm, Basking Ridge; Russo’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm, Tabernacle; Sickles Market, Little Silver; Summit City Farms, Glassboro; Sunny Slope Farms, Bridgeton; Terhune Orchards, Princeton; The Market Basket, Franklin Lakes; Wm. Schober & Sons, Monroeville. Many of these growers also sell at community famers markets.