The Power of Attraction

When I walk through the orchard, the fragrance is strong. The smell of ripening peaches is one of nature’s most powerful perfumes. Everyday I walk out there to test the ripeness of the peaches and I notice more and more bugs and the barking of a squirrel in nearby trees (he thinks I’m an invader!). Creatures seen and unseen come from all over, drawn by the smell of sweet peach nectar. When to pick then becomes a gamble… how long do we wait to pick them because the risk of being bitten and partially eaten by bugs, caterpillars or birds is greater the longer we wait.

These TexKings have an incredible smell and they are nice-sized, juicy and sweet although not as sweet as ones to come. I will be bringing more of these beauties to market on Saturday. However, I’m looking ahead as well because the sweetest of our varieties have yet to ripen. The freestone varieties are the most well-known and desired peaches of summer. The first of them will be available early to mid-June.

And the Season Begins...

We had a great day yesterday at the BVFM. We sold out early, which I hate because it means I didn't bring enough. But, that is always the case so early in the season. However, it's a different story this Wednesday. We will have double the quantity of peaches that we had on Saturday. Not only that - but the TexKings will be coming in.

TexKing, an A&M variety, is a clingstone peach that is large, juicy and full of flavor. As you can see from the photo, these guys are a great size and they are dripping with sweetness! This is a delicious peach.

The Wednesday market is held May-August at Central Park in College Station under the Pavilion from 4-7PM. The Saturday market is held year-round at the corner of Texas Ave. and William J. Bryan Pkwy. in Bryan.

And the Winner is...

I will be bringing Regal peaches to the farmer's market this Saturday. TexKing are not quite ready yet - probably one more week. The ripening Regal peaches held on during the 60mph gusts we had earlier this week... we were lucky! A few days later and it might have been a different story.

We have 6 trees of Regal peaches in various stages of ripening, so I won't know how many I will be bringing until I pick them on Friday. Each tree has an abundance of peaches, though. Regal is a semi-freestone variety. They are a nice size peach, and very juicy. They have a good flavor although not as sweet as some we will be bringing later on.

We have one apricot tree that is loaded so there is a chance I might be bringing in apricots, but more likely that they will ripen for next Wed.

See you at the BVFM on Saturday!

The Race to be First

Two varieties are in the running to be first from our orchard to market this season – TexKing and Regal. TexKing, created by A&M, is a clingstone peach and Regal is a semi-freestone. The early birds of each variety are already turning all shades of peachy red, and every day the change is more noticeable. We have at least one more week – probably two – before we’ll bring them to market.