18 May . 2018
Now’s a peachy time to enjoy the Texas Hill Country
Peaches are pretty picky about where they’ll grow, but fortunately they love the Texas Hill Country, with its sandy soil and optimum number of freezing days.
The Hill Country Fruit Council has announced that 2018 will be a great year for local peaches, with most growers opening in early May.
Many growers offer pick-your-own fruit orchards, and most offer a wide assortment of treats alongside the fresh peaches, including cider, ice cream, preserves and cobbler – all peach-flavored, of course.
Here are some fun facts about peaches in Texas and the Hill Country:
- Texas is the 9th largest producer of peaches in the U.S.
- The Hill Country produces about one-third of Texas’ peach crop, with about 4,000 acres of peach trees.
- Peach trees are relatively short-lived, rarely lasting past 30 years.
- Stonewall, located near Fredericksburg, calls itself the Peach Capital of Texas.
Peaches are believed to have originated in China, migrating to Europe and eventually to North America.
Check out this list of Hill Country peach growers from the Hill Country Peach Council. Don’t wait too long – like wildflowers, Hill Country peaches are a very seasonal treat!