Peaches

August is National Peach Month. Peaches are the third most popular fruit grown in the United States with the state of California producing approximately 80 percent of the total U.S. produce.

Yellow peaches are ready-to-eat when soft and juicy; they'll yield slightly to gentle palm pressure and have a balance of sweet and tart favors. Some like them when slightly Þrm, when they'll be a little more tart. White peaches, naturally less tart, are sweet and can be ready-to-eat when still Þrm and crunchy. Both varieties will taste sweeter and juicier as they soften. While the red blush of a peach is beautiful, it doesn't tell whether the fruit is ripe. Instead, look for a uniform yellow background color, (golden yellow on yellow peaches, creamy yellow on white peaches) with no green around the stem. To store peaches, simply allow them to ripen and soften at room temperature. Place peaches in the refrigerator only when they have reached your desired level of ripeness. (Source: California Tree Fruit Agreement)