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5 Ways to Use Fresh Georgia Peaches

Posted on May 29, 2024 4:20 PM

To say peaches are popular in Georgia would be a vast understatement. They do call us the peach state after all. Did you know that fresh, Georgia peaches are only available about sixteen weeks out of the year from mid May to August? Do you know what to look for when picking out the perfect peach? Look for a creamy gold to yellow under-color. The red or blush part of the fruit actually indicates the variety of peach, not the ripeness. The perfect peach will smell "peachy" and be soft to the touch. 

Georgia produces around 2.6 million bushels of peaches each year and we have our farmers to thank for that! You can find several peach farmers in our state using your Farm Passport. Stop by and see how our farmers grow our state's fruit. Find a peach farm near you. 

Once you visited a peach farm, try one of the recipes below. 

Peach Tea with Mint

As the days get hotter, cool down with this refreshing combo of fresh Georgia peaches and mint. The recipe is super simple and makes the perfect libation for a family meal or lazy summer afternoon. 

 

Ingredients 

  • 3 Georgia peaches
  • Half cup of chopped mint
  • 3 Lipton tea bags
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 7 cups of water
  • Additional mint for garnish

 

Recipe

These mini peach pies are perfect for little hands. There’s a step for everyone in this recipe and your children will love playing with the pie dough. Moms don’t fret, we know you’re busy, so we used pre-made refrigerated pie crusts, but if you want a challenge, you can always make your crust from scratch. 

 

Ingredients 

 

  • About 4 cups of peeled, sliced Georgia peaches
  • ½ cup of brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of corn starch
  • ½ tablespoon of cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt

 

Recipe

Mini Peach Pies

Peach Salsa

This beautiful salsa is packed full of flavor and vibrant colors from produce grown right here in the peach state. Enjoy this sweet and spicy blend with ripe Georgia peaches. 

 

Ingredients

  • 4 peaches chopped
  • 1/2 small red onion chopped
  • ½ jalapeno, chopped with seeds removed
  • ¼ cup of chopped fresh cilantro 
  • Juice of 1 lime 
  • 1 tomato, chopped with seeds removed (we used Roma, but any fresh Georgia tomato would work)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

 

Recipe

 

A sweet and savory dessert featuring Georgia peaches and honey. This classy dish will leave your guests asking for more.

 

Ingredients

  • 4-6 peaches, halved, peeled and pits removed
  • 1/2 stick of butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, freshly ground 
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup of Georgia grown honey 
  • Fresh thyme leaves
  • Balsamic vinegar from Georgia 
  • Vanilla ice cream 

 

Recipe

Broiled Peaches & Vanilla Ice Cream

Peaches & Cream Waffles 

 

 

How do you make a waffle smile? Easy! Just butter it up! Or, in this case, top it with peaches and cream.

 

 

Ingredients

  • Peaches 
  • 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 2 Tablespoons of sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla