DO YOU SHIP YOUR JARRED PRODUCTS?
We are now able to
ship our jarred products. See our new Jarred Products page.This
is a new venture for us.
To order, e-mail
us at tkcooper@windstream.net
in order to receive more information about cost for shipping.
DO ELBERTA PEACHES CONSIST OF A VARIETY OF PEACHES
OR JUST ONE VARIETY CALLED ELBERTA PEACHES?
Elberta was a variety that was around in the early 1900’s and you will not find a “true” Elberta peach tree anymore. A freestone and very sweet and flavorful, it’s drawback for commercial growers was the skin was very thin and would bruise easily during transport. So the Elberta was crossed with other peaches. These new “improved” varieties have the Elberta qualities but with a much thicker skin and thus we are able to grow them in our orchards and ship them with greater success. These new varieties are usually an 80 to 90 percent Elberta The Elbertas we grow are Red Globe, Redskin, Loring, and Bounty, and Cari-Mac.
WHEN WILL YOU HAVE FREESTONE PEACHES?
A good rule of thumb
for the start of freestone peaches would be the around or close
to the first day of summer,
give or take a few days.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLINGSTONE PEACH AND A FREESTONE PEACH?
A "cling" peach
is one where the fruit will not separate from the seed. Also
known as press seed, Cling peaches are good for making spiced
peaches, pickled peaches, or simply for eating or baking. A
'freestone' peach will come away from the seed easily when
ripe whether by cutting or pulling apart. It is also referred
to as free seed or clear seed. A 'semi-freestone' (such as
the sentinel variety) will cut away from the seed using a knife
but not by simply pulling the fruit apart. Both semi-freestone
and freestones are good for canning and freezing since they
are easier to slice.
WHY DO THE SEEDS IN SOME PEACHES SPLIT OR ARE SOFT?
Early May and June
peaches have seeds that tend to be either soft or to split.
The reason for a soft seed is the peach has not had enough
time to develop a seed before it ripens. A split seed is where
the seed breaks open. This is especially true for the "Junegold" variety
which always has a tendency to split. Sometimes the seed will
be black inside or have a sap-like substance inside. There
is nothing wrong with the peach or the seed. Split seeded peaches
tend to ripen quicker than those that have their seed intact.
CAN WE BUY YOUR PEACHES IN THE GROCERY STORE?
Our peaches can be
bought in Central Market, H-E-B, Whole Foods, Rice Epicurean,
Klein Supermarket, and a few family-owned farm stands throughout
the Houston area and the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We encourage
you to look at our “Locations” link or just call
and ask us. If you don’t find our peaches in your local
grocery store, and you live in the areas mentioned above we
suggest you contact the produce manager or store manager and
let them know you would like to be able to buy our peaches
in their store.
DO YOU HAVE A "PICK-YOUR-OWN" OPERATION?
At this time we are
not set up for "pick-your-own". This type of operation
requires that we have ample parking space, restroom facilities,
insurance for any injuries on our property, and many other
considerations. We prefer to have an experienced crew pick
your peaches and have them available to you at our stands.
