Peaches

What factors affect the sweetness and flavor of a peach?

• Hot and dry weather is the #1 contributing factor in sweet and flavorful peaches.
• Tree-ripened peaches are always better.
• Generally, peaches harvested from the top of the tree are sweeter.
• Varieties of peaches bring a variety of flavors. However, this fact alone does not decide the flavor and sweetness of a peach. For example, a Red Haven might not taste quite the same from one year to the next or from one picking to the next.
• White-fleshed varieties are generally sweeter and more mild in flavor than yellow varieties. Yellow-fleshed peaches have a stronger "peachy" taste and aroma.
• Sometimes, the early pickings of a specific variety have more flavor than the last picking.
• Over three days of cold storage can affect the flavor of a peach, however, significant differences often are not seen until after several weeks of cold storage.

What makes a peach juicy?:
Warm weather and tree-ripened harvest are the key contributors to juicy peaches.

Which is the best peach?:
For some, a peach is a peach and there is no "best" peach. Many factors (see first FAQ) affect the making of a good peach. The most significant factor is your personal taste and preference. Here at Kauffman's, we aim to please, so don't hesitate to ask us questions or ask for a sample of a peach on display. We will do our best to help you. Virtually any of the fifty varieties of yellow-fleshed peaches we grow are finely suited for canning. However, Red Haven is the landslide favorite of our customer base. White-fleshed peaches are not as popular for canning because they brown significantly after they are peeled.

How can I help my peaches ripen properly?:
Most of the peaches you buy here will require 2-3 days to ripen. Spread them out in a single layer at room temperature and use them as they ripen (it's not likely that they'll all ripen at the same time.) For smaller quantities, store them at room temperature in a paper bag until they ripen.

How many quarts of canned or frozen peaches can I expect from a half-bushel basket of fresh peaches?
10-12 quarts.

What makes a peach freestone (have a removable pit)?
In a word, weather. Early varieties are always clingstone. Usually, the gradual change between freestone and clingstone occurs after the first picking of Red Haven, but every year is different. Babygold, an exception to the rule, is a mid-season peach that is always clingstone.

What's the difference between yellow and white peaches?
First, it's more properly a "yellow-flesh" or "white-flesh" peach, as no peach actually has yellow or white skin. But to answer the question, most peaches have the yellow flesh that most people expect a peach to have; these varieties generally are used for canning and freezing because they keep their texture and color. White-fleshed peaches are much more mild and soft; therefore, while they make absolutely wonderful snacks, white-fleshed peaches are not nearly as suitable for canning and freezing.