New Jersey Peach Industry Facts
Varieties of Jersey Peaches
Millions of Tons Average Production
Orchards in the State
Acres of Jersey Peach Farms
Dollar Value Per Acre
Jersey Peach Industry Facts
- New Jersey ranks 4th nationally for peach production, after California, South Carolina & Georgia.
- 100% of New Jersey’s peach crop is sold to the fresh market via supermarkets, farm markets, specialty produce stores, U-pick operations, community farmers markets. Jersey peaches are shipped all over the eastern US and eastern Canada.
- New Jersey peaches are all picked by hand.
- New Jersey’s average peach production: 60 – 66 million pounds/30,000 – 33,000 tons.
- Average total wholesale production value of New Jersey peaches is $30-35-million*
*(figures from USDA National Ag Statistics Service & USDA Agricultural Marketing Service)
Where Are the Orchards?
Farm markets and stands and pick-your own are located mainly in central, northern and western regions. There are also many of these in the southern part of the state.
Several peach growers take their peaches to community farmers’ markets located in cities and towns throughout the state.
Peach Related Organizations
New Jersey Peach Promotion Council, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, New Jersey Peach Festival Association, New Jersey State Horticultural Society, New Jersey Farm Bureau Rutgers Cooperative Extension at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New Jersey Peach Council
Jersey Peach Season
Late June through September
Jersey Fresh Standards
To be labeled “Jersey Fresh,” peaches must be US Extra No. 1 grade, sized at least 2.25″ diameter.
Products From Peaches
Fresh freestone peaches can also be used to produce peach cider, peach syrup, peach jam, peach salsa, peach preserves, peach jelly, peach ice cream, canned and frozen peaches and a wide variety of peach baked goods.
Labeling of Peaches
‘Jersey Fresh Premium Peaches’ is a label of increasing importance and prestige. Twenty one peach shippers, located mainly in southern Jersey, use labels that include Jersey Fruit, Atlantic Sunrise, Top Crop, CircleM Fruit Farms, Holtzhauser Farms, Mood’s Orchard, Just Picked, Sun Valley Orchards, Melicks Town Farm, Nichols Orchard, Sunny Slope, Wm Schober, AL Gaventa Sons.
Peach pests & Controlling Them
The biggest pest problem is brown rot. Additionally, chewing and sucking insects, birds, wood chuck and deer all compete with each other and damage peaches.
Through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Practices, peach growers have significantly reduced both amounts and costs of pesticides needed to control pests.
Varieties of Jersey Peaches
- Yellow flesh comprise 90% of Jersey peaches
- White flesh comprise 4% of Jersey peaches
- Yellow and white flesh nectarines comprise 6%
- Something new Doughnut or flat peaches less than 1%
- New varieties are regularly introduced for planting by the Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station.
Long-standing Most Popular Varieties
- John Boy, long-standing most popular peach.
- White Lady, still the Queen of low-acid white-fleshed peaches.
- Lady Nancy, the aromatic white fleshed peach.
- Arctic Star (early); Artic Jay, new mid-season white-fleshed nectarines.
Peach Related Events
- New Jersey Peach Festival – last weekend in July, Gloucester Co. 4-H Fairgrounds, Mullica Hill
- Peach Parties -special peach-featured events at farmers markets, restaurants and supermarkets throughout July and August, Jersey Fresh Peach Month.
- Perfect Peach Pie contest at selected farmers markets and orchards during August.
Mission of New Jersey Peach Promotion Council
New Jersey Peach Promotion Council is dedicated to the orderly promotion and marketing of fresh Jersey Peaches; to enhancing returns to growers and shippers; to maintaining a viable peach industry in the Garden State for the purpose of preserving farmers and farmland; and to providing the highest quality and best tasting fresh peaches for consumers.