The California growing season is wrapping up and growers are preparing for winter. They are out in the orchards controlling weeds, cleaning orchards and repairing irrigation systems.
The trees themselves are getting ready for winter dormancy. Peach trees need to rest every winter and log “Chill Hours” or the amount of hours the tree spends under 45 degrees. Growers are hopeful each tree will get the required 650 - 800 chill hours in order to “wake up” refreshed and ready for another season.
While working on a summer long project called PPNTV, we had a chance to talk to Organic stone fruit grower Vern Peterson. PPNTV is a collection of videos from California peach, plum and nectarine growers. They want to help bridge the gap between producers and consumers. California grows 70% of the nations peaches and not all of the growers have the ability to participate in farmers market programs outside of the San Joaquin Valley. They still understand however, that special connection consumers and growers have at the farmers market.
So, in that same spirit, California peach growers want to give their consumers the opportunity to start a dialogue. Comments on www.IHeartPeaches.com or on the growers PPNTV page on YouTube or Vimeo will get back to the growers - they grow with the consumer in mind and would love to hear from them.
Vern Peterson - Consumer Disconnect From Farmers from PPN TV on Vimeo.
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients
4 cup freshly brewed iced tea
Sugar (optional)
2 fresh California Summerwhite® peaches, sliced thinly
Mint leaves
Directions
Pour tea into glasses over ice and sweeten with sugar, if desired.
Add 6 to 8 peach slices to each glass, and garnish with mint leaves.
