Day Trips: Hill Country Peaches
Sample the fresh produce of farmers' roadside stands
By Gerald E. McLeod, Fri., July 10, 2015
The 2015 peach crop in the Hill Country is one of the best in recent memory. If you haven't done so already, it's high time you tasted your first peach of the season directly from a grower's roadside stand. Don't wait; the blushing golden globes are going fast.
"This has been a year for the record books," Jamey Vogel said above the clatter of the sorting machine in the shade of his family's fruit and vegetable stand outside of Stonewall. The quality and quantity of the fruit has attracted lots of hungry appetites, making this a seller's market. The farmers deserve their best year since 2010.
Don't forget that many of the farm stands along U.S. 290 between Stonewall and Fredericksburg close when they sell out. Getting there early will also ensure the best assortment of other homegrown fruits and vegetables.
When traveling around Texas, also look for locally grown peaches around Fairfield, Terrell, and Weatherford. Those peaches tend to ripen a little later than in the Hill Country where some varieties keep producing into August. For information on the Fredericksburg peach growers go to www.texaspeaches.com.
To experience the fun of picking your own peaches, try Marburger Orchard, south of Fredericksburg. The orchard sometimes closes to let the trees rest, so it's best to call 830/997-9433 before making the drive.
It is also apple-picking time at Love Creek Orchards in Medina. Give them a call at 830/589-2588 to see what's ripe in their fields.
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