Here are our tips for picking the perfect Palisade peach 🍑
Look, smell, and touch
According to most peach experts, a ready-to-eat Palisade peach will be mostly golden in color with no green spots. It will have a strong peachy aroma. And when placed in the palm of your hand and squeezed, it should be firm with a little bit of give. (But don’t squeeze too hard!)
Ask for seconds
The prettiest peaches at a farm stand are called “firsts.” They’re nearly perfect in taste and look, and ready for eating on the spot. But if your peach is just going to get smashed up for jam or baked into pie, you can save a few bucks by asking for the stand’s “seconds.” These peaches might be misshapen, discolored, or overripe, but are often ideal for cooking with.
How to spot a fake
If you are worried that you’re paying top price for a Palisade peach imposter, local peach-lovers allege that the peaches grown in Palisade are typically fuzzier than your average run-of-the-mill peach. You can also look up the orchard listed on the stand’s boxes to verify they’re actually from Palisade.
Keep ‘em fresh
We recommend buying a big box and putting most of them in the fridge to slow the ripening down. Then, grab a few for the fruit bowl on the counter every couple of days to make sure you’ve always got the perfect peach in reach.
Where to shop
Your nearest grocery store will likely be stocking up on Palisade peaches in the produce section, and distributors will also be setting up shop at most local farmers markets. Roadside stands are beginning to pop up around town too — you can follow this recent Reddit thread for recs from fellow peach-hungry Denverites.
🎧 Learn more about Palisade peaches and Colorado’s other famous fruit!
