According to farmers, the peaches need between 800 and 1,200 hours of cold weather below 45. Chilton county peach cobbler in the kitchen with april. Raccoon is a hunting season growing in interest in chilton county. Chilton is the states largest peachgrowing county with 3,500 acres planted with 35 varieties. Peach season arrives in chilton county alabama metropolitan.
Hwy 389 and garrard rd in front of broadcast media. More than twothirds of the cultivation has been confined to chilton county, but the peach has become the states leading. Chilton county peaches 2012 by amber sutton jemison, alabama there are few things sweeter than enjoying a fresh peach, especially one from chilton county. A variety of tomatoes, including slicers, green tomatoes, heirlooms, romas and grape tomatoes, are grown at j. Peaches available may 2020 call for more information 205.
Durbin farms market celebrates peach season start the clanton. Alabama crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables are. Some of the best peaches in the south are sold in small, medium, and peck baskets at our stands. Williams hires about 20 employees for the peach season, which typically runs from may through early september, primarily through the h2a temporary agriculture program. Chilton county peach festival held each year in june since 1947 at the beginning of the peach season, the chilton county peach festival was originated to promote the local peach industry. We can handle an order for one or two boxes or a full truck. His family has been farming on the land where he stands for generations.
The giant peach is actually a 120foot tall water tower on i65 at exit 212 in chilton county. Jul 22, 2018 clanton everythings peachy this time of year for the hayes family in chilton county. Located in the heart of alabama, peach park is a family owned and operated tradition for travelers up and down interstate 65. In response to the covid19 pandemic, the chilton county chamber of commerce, in cooperation with the industrial development authority, has created a task force to assist in communicating local response efforts relating to the coronavirus pandemic, and to disseminate important information to local business owners and residents. Peach chill hours accumulate at positive rate the clanton. There is a smaller giant peach at a roadside stand a few miles south of the big one, which is where we were headed when i spotted a sign that said open, upick peaches, 3 miles. Chilton county peaches now available in starkville. This page is for laughs, and to also address the terrible road conditions in chilton county. It started out slow with those first three of four varieties, but everything is starting to pick up now. Alabama peach chill hours start adding up freshplaza. Jun 21, 2017 more than 110 vendors peddling food, arts and crafts, and games, along with a dj, look to draw a familyfriendly crowd to clanton city park to kick off the official start of the peach season. Mountain view orchards jemison, al, 35085 there is a rich history of peach growers here in chilton county. Whats in season in may 2020, and other timely information.
Peach park was established in 1984 by gene and frances gray as a small, roadside fruit stand. Chilton county peach crops get early start due to higher. The peak of the season just around the corner in midjune. She wants to go to all 16 recognized winerys in alabama.
Durbin farms market celebrates peach season start the. It would much more memorable if we actually picked our own. Mountain view orchards is one of many farms that have continued this rich history, by producing some of the highest quality fruits, since the early 1930s. Only the freshest and best peaches make it on our trucks. While august is national peach month, june is when the peach is. Peach season starts in alabamas chilton county in alabama, peach season is in full swing. Because lodging is limited in chilton county, we suggest staying overnight in either birmingham or montgomery. Chilton county celebrates 70 years of peach festival. Peaches pack prosperity potential for chilton county. I have never met two bread puddings that are exactly alike and i rarely meet one that i dont like.
You get off at the big peach exit and travel about 5 miles to a pick your own place. Chilton county peaches by dawn kent azok clanton, alabama alabama is turning the corner from summer to fall, and nowhere is that more evident than chilton county s peach orchards. Farmers say a few peach trees have already started blooming, but a cold snap could be bad news for the crop. Growers of the famous peaches in chilton county took a little bit of a hit from late. Pageants are held throughout the week, along with the peach run, art exhibitions, a cookoff, li. Hydration is a must during peach season and dordie said that fact is a must. Chilton county peaches are available daily at peach stands in starkville and columbus during the summer. Posts about chilton county peaches written by gedwardjourney.
Growers of the famous peaches in chilton county took a little bit of a hit from late spring cold snaps, but it wasnt enough for any major impacts. Jun 05, 2016 chilton county peach cobbler my sister, kim and i have been going to wine tastings at some great alabama winerys the past few weekends. May 31, 2019 in alabama, peach season is in full swing. If you are a broker looking for full truck loads, call today. Chilton county, al wbrc this seasons chilton county peaches are ready for picking. Jan 06, 2020 the average needed chill hours for varieties in chilton county is 750850 chill hours. He says those roots, are why hes able to farm in the first place. Peach season arrives in chilton county alabama news. To ensure there will be enough peaches to last through the season, peach growers have several varieties in. Jul 06, 2015 chilton county and the city of clanton recently hosted marked its annual peach festival marking the midway point of the season. Durbin farms market, community leaders and alabama agriculture commissioner rick pate celebrated the start of the 2019 chilton county peach season with a kickoff event on june 7. Or stop by the packing shed and pick up a 12 bushel box picked and packed within hours. May 30, 2019 peach season is in full swing in alabama, with the peak of the season just around the corner in midjune. Jones said freestone peaches that are more common in the summer should be available starting in early june.
Chilton county peach festival 2020 in clanton, al everfest. Growers of the famous peaches in chilton county took a little bit of a hit from latespring. Once the peach trees have blossomed, cold weather is no longer a friend. Hunting using a dog is permitted for raccoon, squirrel and rabbit hunting, but is not permitted when hunting deer in chilton county, according to tyus. Peach season is in full swing in alabama, with the peak of the season just around the corner in midjune. Being miss peach is a major thing in chilton county, says miss peach 2002. My family and i go every other week to chilton county to a farm called mcgraw farms. We can handle an order for one or two boxes or a full truck load. The peach crop is getting better, owner danny jones said.
These are the typical, historical dates that crops are ready to be picked or harvested in alabama. Auburn university college of agriculture chilton county. Chilton county, al wsfa a recent freeze has impacted the upcoming crop of peaches in chilton county. Chilton county is also home to the famous peach park, which sells peaches, other fresh produce, and a variety of peach productsdont leave without indulging in. Chilton county peaches go from tree to a store near you in 24 hours. Griffin put in his first peach orchard in ethelsville, al in 1976. You can go out into the orchard and pick your own peaches or you can just purchase from the large table that the family picked that day. It takes about 70 seasonal employees to manage the growing period at jim durbin farms, which is also in chilton county but is not associated with the durbin farms retail market. Join in as chilton county celebrates alabama peaches. It included wills creek winery, jules j berta vineyards, maraella winery and vineyard, white oak vineyards, fruithurst winery, and high country.
One important note is that freestone season for all the markets varieties starts. Hes open to new ideas, but holds tight to his roots. The stand would serve as an alternate location to hauling peaches to new orleans to sell on the french. Sarahs chilton county peaches, starkville, mississippi.
Peach festival is a weeklong event here in the county, benson said. Apr 06, 2007 chilton county leaders have asked the national guard for helicopters to hover over the orchards, but they are not expecting that request to be fulfilled. As the largest peachproducing county in the state of alabama, with about 3,500 acres of peach trees, chilton county is known to many as the mecca of peaches in the heart of dixie. Harvest time for chilton county peach farmers by bryan henry june 5, 2019 at 5. Held each year in june since 1947 at the beginning of the peach season, the chilton county peach festival was originated to promote the local peach industry. The durbin farms market in chilton county is still quiet ahead of the summer season. Harvester, fireprince, redhaven, and loring midseason. Fresh peaches grown in chilton county, al are available at roadside stands in.
Of course, it varies a little bit every year, depending upon the weather and other conditions. Papa joes banjobque music festival may 2223, 2020 augusta, ga norwalk jaycees strawberry. Chilton county peachespeach growing in alabama dates back to the midnineteenth century, and since that time the peach industry has provided growers with a viable source of income and alternatives to such traditional staples as cotton, corn, and other agricultural products. The light green indicates light crops at the beginning or end of a season dark green is when the bulk of the crop ripens and picking is best. The early season peaches that you can purchase right now are called clingstone, which are a rich red color. Popular chilton county peach varieties include flavorich, rubyprince, harvester, fireprince, bounty, loring, sunprince and ohenry.
Individual consumers love our peaches for homemade jellies and jams. Looking ahead to chilton countys peach season alabama news. According to manager colby jones, they started picking the first peaches from this years crop last week. At durbin farms in clanton, those fresh peaches are already stocked for you to buy. Harvest time for chilton county peach farmers wsfa. We finished the northeast alabama wine trail last week. Later in the season, we are always watchful for late season freezes that can damage peach blossoms, vinson said. Chill hours are accumulating at a favorable rate for chilton county. Jun 19, 20 on montgomerys channel 12 news promoting the 20 peach festival. Our family originated out of chilton county, alabama many years ago, and moved back to alabama in the 70s. As well as remember places and memories from the past. Helicopters hovering over the peaches would keep the air stirring in hopes of mixing warmer air aloft back down to the ground, keeping the peaches above freezing. To ensure there will be enough peaches to last through the season, peach growers have.