Of the numerous peach varieties grown, they are usually grouped according to the way the flesh of the fruit is attached to its pit. You can choose from cling, semi-cling, or freestone varieties:

Clingstone The first half of the season brings us clingstone fruit, which make good eating, but are hard work if you’re interested in putting up preserves, since they have stones or pits that cling to a firm flesh. Regardless of ripeness, clingstone peaches require prying from the stone. The clingstone variety is best used to purée or dice.

Semi-cling Semi-freestones, smaller than freestones, are hybrids of both the clingstone and freestones. Its welcomed freestone characteristic is a stone that detaches quite easily from the flesh when completely ripened, which allows it to slice nicely. The secret behind the semi-cling’s succulent flavour is its stone. In fact, you’ll find some home canning with stones placed in the jar for added flavour enhancement.

Freestone Named after the ability of its flesh to easily separate from the pit. Later varieties are more often freestone, one of the most popular type of peach. These peaches tend to be more flavourful than the early clingstone varieties. Best served in appetizer trays, as sliced toppings on desserts, or for canning where attractive, uniform slices are desired.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Savour our gorgeous local BC harvest from July to September. We can eat peaches year-round, thanks to imports from California, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. Peaches are picked at a mature state when the natural sugars have had a chance to develop and create, and continue to ripen when brought to warmer temperatures.

Let your nose be your guide: Peaches are a member of the rose family and their delightful, fragrant aroma tells you which ones to choose. Other indicators of ideal ripeness are the skin around the stem being completely yellow, a slightly soft or semi-firm red and yellow fruit with velvety skin. Avoid fruit that has a green hue or that feels very hard as well as bruises, since they can accelerate and reveal spoilage.

Meaurements:

• One to 1 1/2 pounds of peaches will yield 1 pint of preserved peaches
• 20 pounds will yield 13 to 20 pints

• 35 pounds of peaches makes 17 very full canning quarts with approx. 28 cups water used for syrup

STORAGE

Store peaches unwashed. If you desire to ripen the fruit more fully, place them in a brown paper bag and fold closed. Keep at room temperature, checking them daily, as they ripen quickly. Store ripe fruit in a refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days.

HOW TO PREPARE

Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before eating to expose the full flavor and rinse thoroughly. Peel if desired. 

The darkened red flesh, a common characteristic of the ‘cresthaven’ variety, which is attached to the large pit in the middle of the peach, is more bitter tasting than the yellow flesh around it. Hence, some recipes may suggest removing the red-fleshed area in the yellow-fleshed peach before it is prepared as an ingredient. Prevent browning of fresh cut peaches by dipping fruit into a mixture of 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Peeling

Peach skin can be removed by simply peeling with a small kitchen knife, but this method tends to waste much of the flesh of the peach. Blanching preserves the flesh of the peach:

Step 1 Cut a small slit in the upper dimple of the peach skin

Step 2 Bring a pot of water to a boil and keep it very hot. Meanwhile, set a large bowl or bucket in the sink and fill with cold water and some ice cubes.

With a slotted spoon, plunge fruit into boiling water for 30 – 60 seconds.

Step 3 Remove from the boiling water using aslotted spoon and put into a large bowl or pot of cold water and ice to stop the cooking process quickly. Remove after about 2 minutes – once they are cool enough to handle.

Step 4 Even if the fruit is a tad on the green side, the skin will slip off very easily. Otherwise, use a small paring knife to encourage its removal. Begin at the top of the peach and pull downward.

~ The Microwave ~ An Alternative Peeling Method

Try loosening the peel with the microwave at full power for 15 seconds, allowing the peach to stand for 2 minutes before peeling.

To Prevent Browning

Peaches will turn brown when exposed to air, even air in a sealed, sterile jar. To keep the fruit from turning brown, use one of the following methods to prevent discolouration:

• Lemon Juice: Slice peaches into a solution of 1 tablespoon lemon juice per quart of water.Then stir the peach slices to ensure all the surfaces have been coated
• Fruit Fresh or Ever-Fresh: These commercial antioxidants are a combination of ascorbic, citric acid, Vitamin C and sugar. Please follow the manufacturers’ instructions

• Ascorbic Acid: Also known as Vitamin C. It is water-soluble and helps prevent the fruit from turning brown in colour.

• Syrup Pack Options

  • • Sugar content in the syrup will depend on the tartness of the fruit and your taste.
• About 1/2 to 2/3 cups of syrup is needed for each pint of peaches. Fruits packed in syrup are generally more satisfactory for uncooked desserts, fruit cocktail and sauces.
• More than 3 cups sugar to 1 quart water makes most fruit too sweet. Less than 1 cup sugar to 1 quart of water is seldom satisfactory. Use sugar and water in the following proportions for the various types of syrup:

• • You may replace about 1/4 of the sugar with corn syrup or honey. Higher proportions will give the peaches a very different flavor. The combination of corn syrup and sugar will not be as sweet. Honey has a definite flavor.
  • Either add the sugar to cold water and stir until it is completely dissolved, or heat the syrup to dissolve the sugar. Do not boil. Chill the hot syrup thoroughly before using. Keep syrup refrigerated until used.

• • TRADITIONAL SYRUP PACK: In a bowl, for every four cups of peaches, combine 2/3 cup of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of ascorbic acid and 1/4 cup of cold water. Mix well but gently to prevent mashing or bruising.
  • DRY SUGAR PACK: Add 1 part sugar (by weight) to 4 or 5 parts fruit (by weight) to sweeten the peaches and protect their quality. The amount of sugar needed will vary with the tartness of the fruit and your taste. Use one cup of simple syrup and 1/4 teaspoon of ascorbic acid for every four cups of peaches.
    • Cut the peaches into a shallow bowl. Mix the sugar and peaches gently with a large spoon until the juice is drawn and the sugar is dissolved.
  • UNSWEETENED PACK: Unsweetened peaches can be used in pies, for jams and preserves, and other cooked dishes.
    • Slice or crush the peaches in their own juice. Be aware that changes in colour, flavour and texture occur more rapidly in an unsweetened pack than in fruits packed with sugar or syrup.
  • JUICE OR WATER PACK: Mix two cups of water, peach, apple or white grape juiceand 1/4 teaspoon of ascorbic acid for every four cups of peaches
  • Note: 1/2 teaspoon ascorbic acid equals 1,500 milligrams in tablet form

Removing the Pit

Step 1 Begin at the stem of the peach, cut lengthwise around the perimeter (follow the natural indentation) down to the pit using a small kitchen knife.

Make a slice around the entire perimeter of the peach.

Step 2 Twist the peach halves in opposite direction until they separated from each other.

Step 3The pit will remain in one half of the peach when they are separated.

Step 4 Remove the pit using a knife or your fingers to pry it loose from the center of the peach. Now you are ready to enjoy!

• Slice to eat fresh
• Can – Ralph’s loyal customers can hardly wait for canning season!
• Boil then simmer – The natural sugars are released, creating a delectable glaze.
• Poach – Peach Melba is the crowning glory
• Broil to serve with meats
• Candy
• Dry – They have a sweet tart flavour
• Cook – Spiced peaches make an excellent side dish with winter meals.
• Grill – For the summer, grill fresh peaches, nectarines, or apricots to make a savoury and decorative accompaniment to any meal.
• Freeze – pureed, sliced, or cubed
• Blended for fruit drinks or sauces; used for jams, pie filling or cobbler, yogurt topping or pureed flavouring, topping for ice-cream, or baby food. Make up batches of refreshing smoothies. Be creative-most fresh fruits blend beautifully!

Measurement Hint A pound of peaches is equivalent to approximately 4 medium whole peaches, 2 cups peeled and sliced, or 1 1/2 cups puréed.

• The infamous Peach Melba was created in the late 1800s by the celebrated French chef Escoffier for Dame Nellie Melba, a popular Australian opera singer. The same chef created Melba toast, a toast that is extremely thin and dry.
• Peaches are believed to be native to the Orient. The ancient Chinese first cultivated peaches as early as tenth century BC. The Chinese have long revered the peach as a symbol of long life and immortality, and still celebrate the blossoming of the peach tree as a sign and symbol of spring, the season of renewal and growth. To this day, they give and receive a peach on special occasions.
• Brides in some countries wear wreaths of peach blossom, just as Western brides wear orange blossom; it still symbolizes virginity and fertility.
• Carried to western Asia by caravans, the news traveled about the sweet, velvety peaches. Persia’s climate provided exceptional growing conditions for peaches, hence the name (prunus persica). By 140 BC, peaches had travelled to the Mediterranean, particularily Rome and Greece. In 65 BC, the Roman emperor Pompey introduced peach trees peach orchards rapidly increased throughout Western Europe. Eventually peaches reached northern Europe, enjoyed but not grown due to an incompatible climate.
• Flat peaches originated in China, simply called Chinese flat peaches, peento peach, or Chinese saucer peach. First grown in the U.S. in the 1800’s fell out of favour, more than likely due to its white flesh, since the early fruit breeders routinely discarded those with pale flesh. Originally the flat varieties had no special names. Then in Austailia they’ were named saucer peaches. Modern day marketing gurus knew that a catchier name was required. A marketing campaign was a success when introducing the name ‘donut peach’. They’re grown commercially in Central California and Washington.

• The life span of a peach orchard is 15 to 20 years.