Peaches
Peach Days
Farmers markets throughout North Carolina celebrate “peach days” in July. For a schedule, visit the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services’ peach events calendar.
Nutrition
- Good source of riboflavin and vitamin C, which helps the body resist infections.
- Provides vitamin A, needed for healthy vision, mucus membranes and skin.
- Rich in phenolic acids, which act as antioxidants.
Selection & Storage Tips
Peaches make summer sweet in North Carolina. You can find N.C. peaches at farmers markets from June all the way into September.
What to look for
- Peaches should have firm, fuzzy skins.
- Ripe peaches will yield to gentle pressure.
- A creamy to gold under color indicates ripeness. The amount of red blush on the fruit depends on the variety and is not always a sign of ripeness.
- A well-defined crease and a good fragrance also indicates ripeness.
- Avoid blemishes.
How to preserve your produce
- Handle peaches carefully; they bruise very easily and decay develops rapidly.
- Store unripe peaches in a paper bag to ripen.
- Ripe peaches should be stored at room temperature; use within one to two days.
- Fully ripened peaches can be refrigerated and kept there until ready for consumption.
Recipe
Fruit Blast Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup nonfat milk
- 1/2 cup nonfat yogurt, plain or vanilla
- 1 cup frozen unsweetened fruit, such as peaches or berries
- 1 tsp. honey
Directions:
Put all the ingredients into a blender, process until smooth. Serves 2.
