Elberta Peaches
If you're looking for a sweet and easy fruit to peel, an Elberta peach might be the perfect choice for you. Known as the "Queen of Peaches," Elberta is one of America's most popular peach varieties. Dickey Farms is proud to provide a Georgia-grown selection that you can enjoy on its own, add to your favorite recipes or preserve with canning.
History of the Elberta Peach
The Elberta peach has a history as sweet as its taste — Samuel Rumph, the father of the Georgia peach industry, planted an orchard on his family's farm in 1857. He began collecting seeds and experimenting with ways to create the perfect fruit.
Over the next two decades, big trees grew. In particular, one beautiful tree bore an exceptionally fine freestone peach. A family friend, Mrs. L. E. Veal, visited Rumph and marveled at the sight of yellow and crimson fruit with clear seeds.
Following a suggestion from Mrs. Veal, Rumph named the extraordinary fruit after his wife. The Elberta and a few of its newest varieties were commercially planted and became an increasingly popular product throughout Georgia.
Rumph's clever, well-loved innovations still have a presence in the way peaches are produced today.
What Is an Elberta Peach?
Elbertas are considered classic peaches. They have recognizable characteristics, including a large size, yellow skin and a distinctive red blush. Each sweet, juicy peach is known for its rich flavor. You can easily peel the pit away from the peach, which makes it the perfect snack.
What Are the Most Common Uses?
In addition to eating Elberta peaches on their own, they're an ideal choice for the following:
- Baking and cooking: Visit our fresh market to try our homemade peach pies, fritters and bread. We have several peach baking mixes to make at home, from waffles and pancakes to cobblers.
- Salad additions: Add a fruity twist to your salad with peach flavors. Our dressings and vinaigrettes taste best when tossed on fresh produce and vegetables.
- Preserves: Use our popular peach products to enhance everyday snacks and meals. In addition to selling canned peaches and salsas, we offer an assortment of jellies, jams and syrups.
- Ice cream: Make your day a little happier with peach ice cream. We offer soft-serve ice cream in waffle cones, sugar cones or cups.
- Candies: Satisfy your sugar cravings with an assortment of peach candies, including jellybeans, gummies and taffy. Our candies provide the perfect way to treat yourself or surprise someone with a gift.
- Drinks: Take your hosting to the next level with our bottled cider products. You can serve the drinks as-is, turn them into a slushy or warm them in a crockpot for a sweet-smelling home.
When Is Elberta Peach Season?
Each spring, Elberta peach trees bloom with dark pink to purple flowers. Typically, the peaches are ready to harvest in Georgia from mid-July to early August.
What Are the Elberta Peach Varieties?
Many of our freestone varieties are related to the Elberta, which gives them a similar size, flavor and juiciness. Each season, you can explore our informational page about peaches to learn which varieties we offer and see when they're available.
Get Your Peaches From Dickey Farms
Ready to find some Elberta peaches near you? Dickey Farms has over 125 years of experience growing peaches in the heartland of Georgia. Come see our multigenerational legacy on a solo adventure or family trip — we have a charming market where you can shop for fresh produce, homemade desserts and gourmet gifts.
If you'd like to order peaches online, sign up for our box subscription services while they're available. We carefully handpick each fruit from our orchard trees, transport them to our packing house and complete several inspections to ensure you receive the best of the best.
Feel free to call 478-836-4362 or contact us if you have questions about our product availability and offerings.
