PEACH COUNTY, Ga. — According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Georgia produces nearly 25,000 tons of peaches annually. Peach County is the state's top grower with a value of $19,125,000 followed by Taylor, Macon, Crawford and Bleckley County.
Last year in winter 2023, a cold snap ruined many of the peach crops. Resulting in farmers losing more than 90% of their crop. This year, Lanier Pearson with Pearson Farm says they are seeing a big difference.
"This year, we're looking at kind of the other extreme and we've got a ton of peaches. Everybody is super excited. We've been looking forward to this season for two years now. We are excited to get to work, and to have peaches to share with people," Pearson said.
Pearson says this year is the most wonderful time of year for peach farmers. She says they've opened their newly renovated store in Crawford County and have a variety of peaches for people to choose from.
"Learn about what makes a Zee Diamond different from a Flavorich and different from a Carored," Pearson said.
Clara Lenander is an exchange student from Sweden. She was completing her studies at Wesleyan College in Macon. She says she wanted to try the Georgia peaches before she headed back to Sweden.
"I had been informed that Georgia was the peach state and peaches are my favorite fruit so I was very excited," Lenander said.
Lane Southern Orchard CEO, Mark Sanchez says this winter was much better than last winter in 2023. He said he expects to sell more than a million peaches this season.
"Last year, we had a late freeze that cost of 90% of our crop. So it was a very very short crop. This year, it's just the opposite," Sanchez said.
Sanchez says the perfect peach weather means they can sell to local grocery stores. Unlike last year, they could only sell in their store and on their website. He says the best part of peach season is getting started.
"It's so hectic and chaotic during peach season that you always like to see the end of it too," he said jokingly.
Sanchez says they made upgrades to their packing house and are relieved to have a full production. Before Clara heads back to Sweden, she told 13WMAZ she wanted to try peach fritters.
According to the University of Georgia, Georgia typically produces more than 130 million pounds of peaches a year. The peach season runs from mid-May to mid-August.