Peaches are a gift from nature.
The sweet, juicy, seasonal fruit is packed with flavor and vitamins. It is a nutritious snack that can be enjoyed straight off the tree, or baked in pies, blended in smoothies, or added to summer salads.
The hearty fruit also freezes well for year-round enjoyment.
When most people think about peaches, Georgia probably comes to mind. The state produces tons of high-quality peaches and is aptly nicknamed "The Peach State."
However, Colorado has some skin in the peach game and has a delicious variety that grows in popularity every year.
The Centennial State's peach capital is Palisade, a small town on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains near the Utah border. The area's warm days, cool nights, and abundant sunshine provide ideal conditions for developing the fruit's sugars and natural flavors.
Palisade peaches have a long history. J.P. Harlow and his wife planted the first peach trees in the Palisade area around 1882. Their initial growing attempts failed, but they didn't give up, and with tenacity and fertilizer, their orchard began producing a bountiful, award-winning crop.
In 1909, the town held the first Peach Day festival with President Taft in attendance. Today, the Palisade Peach Festival is a weekend-long event with orchard farm tours, peach-eating contests, family activities, feasts, and more.
Peach lovers don't have to wait for the festival to enjoy a delicious Palisade peach. The fruit is harvested from late June through early October and is now available at farm stands, orchards, and local grocery stores.
Whether you enjoy them fresh, baked, blended, or frozen, be sure to grab some Palisade peaches this summer. They are one of Colorado's juicy gems.
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