Palisade Fruit Varieties and Harvest Schedule

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When people throughout the Mountain States region think of peaches, they naturally think of Palisade! People from hundreds of miles around make the annual trek to our orchards to buy not only peaches, but apricots, cherries, plums, pears and apples as well. We invite you to make Palisade part of your fresh fruit-loving experience this year! This schedule represents average local harvest times, which may vary from year to year depending on weather.

Peaches

Early — July 25 - Aug. 10; 
Late — Aug. 25 - Sept 10

Early Varieties include Red Haven and July Elberta. Mid-summer (Middle) varieties include Suncrest, Sullivan & Blake. Late Varieties include Elberta, Redskin and Hale. Early peach varieties have softer flesh and come in smaller supplies. Middle & Late varieties are better for canning and freezing. All varieties can be stored for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Ripeness is best determined by the amount of yellow/orange color.

Cherries

Sweet Cherries — June 20 - July 10; Sour Cherries — July 15 - 25

Sweet varieties include Bing and Lambert cherries. Ripe sweet cherries have a very dark maroon color and will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Supplies can be sporadic due to spring frosts. Sour (tart or pie) cherries are mostly of the Montmorency variety. Ripeness is determined by a deep, bright red color. They may be stored over a week in the refrigerator, but are mostly canned or frozen to be enjoyed year round.

Apricots

June 25 - July 5
There are several, very similar varieties of apricots grown in Palisade. When ripe they have a golden orange color and are soft to the touch. Apricots can be stored 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Apples

Summer — July 25 - Aug. 25; Winter — Sept. 15 - Oct. 30

Summer varieties retain their green color. Winter varieties are ripe when they attain a uniform red color over the entire apple. Both varieties can be stored for 1 to 2 months in the refrigerator.

Plums

Santa Rosa — Aug. 1 - 15
; Prune — Aug. 25 - Sept. 15
Ripe plums have deep color with no green and can be stored 2 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator.

Pears

Aug. 15 - Sept. 15
Bartlett pears are the most commonly grown variety in Palisade, but Anjou, Bose and other varieties can also be found here. Pears are ripe when they yield to gentle pressure at the stem end. Because they are fragile when ripe and ripen best off the tree, pears should be picked and stored while green and firm. Refrigerated pears keep 3-5 weeks.

Grapes

Sept. 9 - 25
Our major growers have mostly wine grapes and a few table varieties. Ripe grapes have a sweet taste and uniform color and may be stored for 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. Most supplies are committed to commercial wineries.

 

Do You Know?

• A peach was the first fruit to be eaten on the moon.

• The peach is a member of the rose family.

• Peaches are extremely popular in the U.S. Only apples, oranges and bananas are consumed more than peaches.

• The United States is the largest peach producer in the world. Peaches are grown commercially in almost every region of the country.

• Fuzz helps the peach defend itself from various threats. Some feel the fuzz was developed to give the fruit more resistance to insects and diseases. Another theory is that the fuzz protects peaches from sunburn and potential water loss.

• Not all the fruit on a tree ripens at the same time. Usually, fruit on the outside and top of the tree will ripen about a week before fruit on the middle and inside of the tree. When peaches ripen, the side that is facing the sun develops a rosy "blush," while the part not exposed turns from green to a creamy yellow. This color is the best indicator of ripeness.

 

National Peach Celebration Days

• National Peach Cobbler Day — in April

• National Peach Pie Day — in August

• National Peach Melba Day — in January
• 
Peach Ice Cream Day — in July