Program Information

Did you know peaches were already a cultivated crop when English settlers first arrived in Virginia? Native American Indians planted the fruit in the area that would become Patrick County. That county plays host to the Virginia Peach Festival each year. Today, Virginia is the 14th largest peach producing state in the nation and in 2003 the peach crop produced more than $3.4 million dollars in cash receipts.

ABCs of Agriculture informs about Virginia's farming community and how it affects you. ABCs of Agriculture are produced by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) - an educational program which encourages and enhances agricultural literacy in Grades K-5 and 6-8.

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the ABC’s of Agriculture! We’re here today to talk about the letter P which stands for peaches! Did you know peaches were already a cultivated crop when English settlers first arrived in Virginia?

Native American Indians planted the fruit in the area that would become Patrick County. That county plays host to the Virginia Peach Festival each year.

Today, Virginia is the 14th largest peach producing state in the nation and in 2003 the peach crop produced more than $3.4 million dollars in cash receipts.

The Peach originated in China…at least 3,000 years ago. Wild peaches still grow in remote areas of China. Peaches were brought to America by the Spanish….

Today, the peach is grown in at least 64 countries worldwide. The United States produces about 20% of the world's peaches.

Peaches are picked off of trees like these in orchards…. How can you tell if a peach is ripe? As a peach ripens, the part facing the sun gets a reddish blush and the part not exposed to sun turns from green to yellow. The best way to tell if a peach is ripe is by looking for a yellow ground color.

Virginia does not produce as many peaches as it once did … but in 2003 more than 12 hundred 60 acres of peaches were harvested….

And… did you know that peaches taste best consumed "warm" from the tree? Peaches are harvested in Virginia in July, August and September….

For the ABC’s of Agriculture, I’m Professor Brad… see you next time!

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