Featured Food

New Jersey's peach farmers produce about 60 million pounds of peaches on 8,000 acres, making the state the fourth-largest producer of peaches in the nation. Gloucester County leads the state in peach production. Jerome Frecon, Agricultural Agent for Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County says, "Peach harvest begins on June 25 in South Jersey and continues through mid-September in North Jersey."

New Jersey growers continue to diversify plantings with newer and tastier varieties of both yellow-fleshed peaches and nectarines, as well as more white-fleshed peaches and nectarines.

A Peach for all Seasons

Apples come in different varieties, like Golden Delicious, Macintosh, Gala, etc., but all peaches are the same, right? Wrong! The Jersey Fresh peaches and nectarines you enjoy all season long are actually a number of varieties which ripen at different times and have different characteristics. Jerry Frecon provides us with an overview of early to late season Jersey Fresh peach and nectarine varieties that you will be finding this season:

Early Season Peach varieties normally ripen in southern New Jersey from July 5 to August 1 and are available up to 2 weeks later. These varieties represent a total of 25.5 % of the tree acreage planted. Glenglo, Sentry, and Summer Serenade are popular very early varieties followed by GaLa and Flavorcrest. Early Loring, Flamin Fury PF15A, Redhaven, John Boy, Bellaire, Salem Flamin Fury PF Jersey, 14, Starfire and Bellaire are beautiful firm red yellow-fleshed varieties finish out the early season.

Easternglo is the first high quality yellow fleshed nectarine followed by Harblaze and Summer Beaut in the early season.

Mid Season Peach varieties normally ripen in southern New Jersey from August 5 to August 20 and are available up to 2 weeks later. These varieties represent a total of 25.4 % of the tree acreage planted. Flamin Fury PF 17, Allstar, Harrow Beauty and Bounty are replacing Loring, the most popular midseason variety. Contender, Flamin Fury PF 23, Glowingstar, and Flamin Fury PF 24-007 follow Loring and are replacing an old favorite Blake.

Flavortop and Sunglo are the major yellow-fleshed red skinned nectarine varieties in the mid season followed by Red Gold and old favorite for red color, size, and flavor.

Late Season Peach varieties normally ripen in southern New Jersey from August 25 to September 15, and are available up to 3 weeks later. Cresthaven and Flamin Fury PF 25 are the first followed by Flamin Fury PF 27A, Jerseyglo, Jerseyqueen, and Fayette. Encore is the most heavily planted peach variety in New Jersey and is available with Autumnglo and Flameprince. Laurol, ripening after Encore, is heavily planted in young orchards. Big Red, and Parade finish up the late season yellowfleshed peaches.

Fantasia is the major late nectarine. This variety ranked number 1 in a New Jersey peach and nectarine variety taste test.

White-Fleshed Peaches During the early twentieth century most of the important varieties in New Jersey were white- fleshed. During the middle of the century many new firmer, yellow-fleshed varieties with more red skin color replaced these white-fleshed varieties. However, we now have beautiful full red skinned, firm, white-fleshed varieties throughout the season. These begin with Sugar May in mid- July followed in order by: Lady Kim, Sugar May, White Lady, Sugar Lady, Klondike, Blushing Star, Sugar Giant, Lady Nancy and Snow Giant. Many other new peach and nectarines varieties are being developed.

A growing industry is also developing for flat or doughnut peaches. The first variety NJ F-2 was developed in New Jersey. It is available in late July through early August under the generic name Saturn.

Some white-fleshed nectarines like Arctic Star, Arcticglo, Arctic Sweet, Arctic Jay, and Arctic Pride are also available.