Clayton, NJ – New Jersey's spring and early summer weather have been cooperating nicely for producing exceptional fruit size and quality in peach and nectarine crops across the state. Hand thinning is in progress after “bloom time” rain and cloudy weather reduced blossom load and fruit set.
“That early natural thinning greatly helped fruit size, particularly in the early season crop,” said Santo John Maccherone, grower and chair of the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council. “We expect yields to be 70-million pounds or better — 2,800,000 1/2-bushel boxes of excellent quality fruit, to begin harvesting in late June.” He also said that recent hot weather is infusing both white- and yellow-fleshed varieties with intense flavor.
Some of the major very early maturing peaches are Flamin Fury PF 1, Flamin Fury PF 5B, Sunbrite, followed by Sentry, Glenglo, Flamin Fury PF 7 and Summer Serenade — all yellow-fleshed, red-skinned peaches. Spring Snow and Lady Kim are the major very early white-fleshed varieties. Sentry is expected to be ready for shipping the first week in July. "We expect to harvest and ship plenty of large peaches well into September," said Maccherone.
Approximately 90 New Jersey producers grow 6,600 acres of peaches and nectarines. Increasingly popular are white-fleshed peaches and nectarines and doughnut (or flat) peaches. Each year, growers try new varieties to lengthen the season and improve size and quality, making the country's finest peaches available earlier and later, enabling produce managers to keep stores stocked well past Labor Day. The new early variety Desiree® (NJ 350), developed at the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is extending New Jersey's growing season on the front end, helping growers better compete with southern growers. (New Jersey is the fourth largest peach producer in the country, after California, South Carolina and Georgia.) "Our peaches are generally superb, plentiful and fresh-picked through September," says Jerome Frecon, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension peach specialist. "We continually try to dispel retailers' misconceptions that after Labor Day, New Jersey peaches are “old peaches,” not Jersey Fresh. One of the most important ways we have addressed this issue is through development and evaluation of new late-season varieties, with better color, flavor and handling characteristics that extend the season into late fall — the end of September/sometimes October.. These include the yellow- fleshed Gloria ™(NJ351), Messina ™(NJ 352), Flamin Fury® PF28-007, Flameprince, Laurol, Autumn Prince, Victoria™ (NJ 353).
The Peach Promotion Council produces a Peach Buyers Guide that outlines the extra effort growers and purveyors take to ensure the proper handling of quality “Jersey Fresh peaches.” The 2011 Peach Buyers Guide contains all the information on the New Jersey peach industry for buyers and merchandisers. lists all member growers, packing houses, wholesalers and shippers. Growers and packers are mainly centered in Elmer, Glassboro, Bridgeton, Hammonton, Mullica Hill, Vineland, Swedesboro and Salem. Wholesalers are mainly in Newark, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Ontario and Quebec.
Many different specialty packs are available from the marketers for retailers to utilize in "Premium or Specialty Peach" displays that add value. Not just any peach….a Jersey-Fresh peach…juicy, nutritious, delicious–the best!
For further information and Buyers Guides, contact the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council information office, 856-307-6450 X1; info@jerseypeaches.com; visit the website www.jerseypeaches.com and find jersey peaches on facebook.
Source: New Jersey Peach Promotion Council