CLAYTON, NJ — In keeping with August as "New Jersey Peach Month," the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council (PPC) has updated its website, making it interactive and linking it to the state's peach growers and distributors. The easily negotiated site is divided into five sections for specific interests: "Members," "Wholesale, Institutional & Restaurants," Consumers," "Growers & Shippers," and "Media."
"We've designed this to make it easy for members to communicate with each other through links to their websites and for consumers to learn about buying, preserving, and nutritional value of peaches," says Jerry Frecon, member of the PPC and stone fruit expert at Rutgers Cooperative Extension for Gloucester County. Gloucester is the largest producer of peaches in New Jersey, but peaches are grown throughout the state, on a total of 5,500 acres.
The Membership and Growers sections contain a simple form to join the council. They also contain listings of members marketing peaches, supplies, equipment & services, those who sell directly to consumers and those who sell to wholesalers. There are also valuable links to industry experts.
Merchandisers can find out where to buy shipments of peaches, seasonal availability and varieties, industry facts, downloadable price cards for store displays, merchandising and handling information, industry expertise and contacts, a peach events calendar and more.
Consumers can learn all about peaches, including nutritional value (a peach is only 70 calories), where to buy, a 2012 calendar of "Peach Parties" and special peach events, how to handle and store, recipes for peach dishes from appetizers to desserts, and even a booklet of recipes by New Jersey's top chefs that can be downloaded.
Members of the media will find press releases, a peach fact sheet with all the salient information including number of acres, number of orchards, approximate monetary value of New Jersey peaches, a brief history of peaches in the state and a "state of the industry today." There also are selections of photos that can be downloaded for use, compliments of the PPC.
"We think our peach site is the most comprehensive of any on the internet," says Frecon. "Check it out and let us know–via our 'contact' section."
PPC has also updated its facebook page "jersey peaches." It posts updates there and encourages growers to post their own updates and information such as where they're selling peaches each week and what's available.
For further information, contact the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council information office, 856-307-6450 X1; info@jerseypeaches.com; or visit the website www.jerseypeaches.com and find jersey peaches on facebook. (copy of website on following page)
Source: New Jersey Peach Promotion Council