Yum, yum… August is National Peach Month!

CROPS: Summer Peaches

by Whitney Long

photo by www.simpledailyrecipes.com

Lucky for us, we are right in the middle of peach season here in the south! And while we have talked about many southern culinary treats, nothing says southern summer like a fresh, juicy peach. From the roadside stands that dot our landscape to the grocery stores and farmers markets, this delectable fruit is widely available now thru late August. And if you don’t live in the south, farmers in Georgia “The Peach State” and South Carolina, whose official state fruit is the peach, can ship them right to your front door so you too can enjoy them.

One of my favorite ways to eat a fresh peach it to peel it, cut into bite size pieces, sprinkle lightly with sugar then cover about halfway with milk. Place in the fridge to get really cold then they are ready to eat – a simple but sweet treat! My grandmother MeMommy always did this and I enjoyed it at her house and it’s now a family favorite in my house. It’s a great way to use fresh strawberries, too.

Mail order peach suppliers:

http://www.abbottfarmsonline.com/

http://www.macspride.com/

http://www.pearsonfarm.com/

http://www.gapeaches.com/

Recipes using fresh peaches:

Grilled Peach and Mozzarella Salad

http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/summer-peach-recipes-00417000067799/page20.html

Peach Pecan Muffins

http://southernfood.about.com/od/muffinrecipes/r/bln181.htm

Fresh Peach Frozen Yogurt

http://www.thekitchn.com/fresh-peach-frozen-yogurt-with-92869

Peach Soup with Shrimp and Crab Seviche

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/golden-peach-soup-with-shrimp-crab-seviche-10000001988533/

Grilled Pork Chops with Southern Peach Salsa

http://www.nolacuisine.com/2010/07/14/grilled-pork-chops-with-grilled-peach-salsa/

Mama Hattie’s Ultimate Peach Cobbler (from contributor Emily Labordes’s blog)

http://emsontheroad.com/2012/07/06/peachy-keen-11/

See our tumblr archives to hear us wax poetic about other southern treats such as tomatoes, pecans, pimento cheese, coca-cola and popsicles and also check our contributor Laura Leigh Packard’s “Georgia Peach” Pinterest board:

http://thesouthernc.tumblr.com/archive

http://pinterest.com/lauraleighp/georgia-peach/