How to pick peaches

4 min read

One of the few fruits here that genuinely improves after picking, which changes how you should choose them.

What to look for

1
Judge by the background colour, not the red blush. The blush is variety and sun exposure; the yellow or cream underneath is ripeness
2
Cup the whole fruit in your palm and twist gently upward. If it needs a tug, leave it
3
No green at all near the stem. Green there never ripens properly, however long you leave it on the counter
4
Fingers bruise peaches through the fuzz without leaving a mark you can see, so hold them in the palm rather than pinching
5
Freestone varieties come away from the pit cleanly and are what you want for canning. Ask which the farm is picking that week

Seasons are short and local. See which pick-your-own farms have peaches on right now.