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7 Just Peachy Summer Recipes

Sweeter than apples and sturdier than berries, peaches are one of the most versatile fruits to cook with. Whether you bake ’em, grill ’em, or eat them fresh, peaches are a key ingredient in a cook’s summer kitchen.

To Drink: White Peach Sangria

white peach sangria from vegan family recipes blog

This fruity, alcoholic white wine sangria is loaded with peaches, strawberries, and blueberries. Colorful and sweet, it’s perfect for parties and summer BBQs.

Recipe and photo from Vegan Family Recipes.

To Bake (Sweet): Peaches and Cream Muffins

peaches and cream muffins from baker by nature

These muffins couldn’t be an easier—the recipe is simple and comes together in under 20 minutes. The muffins are soft, fluffy, and topped with a creamy cinnamon vanilla glaze.

Recipe and photo from Baker by Nature.

To Bake (Savory): Peach and Prosciutto Pizza

peach prosciutto pizza

Three kinds of cheese, peaches, and prosciutto topped with fresh basil and a honey balsamic reduction—it’s a pizza you’ll never forget.

Recipe and photo from Cooking Classy.

To Grill: Grilled Peach Salad

grilled peach salad from taste with the eyes

This summer salad packs a flavor punch with bourbon grilled peaches, blueberries, onion, bleu cheese, and pistachios on a bed of farro and arugula. The salad is dressed with a sweet maple bourbon rosemary dressing.

Recipe from Taste with the Eyes.

To Fry: Fresh Peach Fritters

peach fritter from Bunny's Warm Oven

Fluffy, moist, and loaded with fresh peaches, these cinnamony treats are a true indulgence.

Recipe from Bunny’s Warm Oven.

To Freeze: Creamy Peach Popsicles

creamy peach popsicles from Chef Sarah Elizabeth

These naturally sweetened popsicles are a healthy and natural ice cream alternative.

Recipe from Chef Sarah Elizabeth.

To Enjoy Fresh: Peach Salsa

Peach salsa by Dinner at the Zoo

This versatile salsa—made from ripe peaches, red onion, jalapeno, lime juice, and cilantro—is versatile enough to use as a dip with chips, a topping for grilled chicken or fish, or even a component in a salad.

Recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.

The orchards are bursting with juicy, tree-ripened peaches just waiting to be picked and transformed into a delicious meal!

Mid-June Crop Update for Chiles Peach Orchard

Pick-Your-Own Peaches Will Be In Short Supply…

As you are likely aware, we’ve had some major challenges with the weather this year. Our winter was extremely warm (warmest on record, as a matter of fact), so our peach trees didn’t get all the dormant time they require. They also bloomed in mid-March, 3-4 weeks earlier than normal. This means they were quite advanced when the mid-April freezes and frosts hit us. We had several nights below freezing, and even some nights in the low-mid 20s’. Our peach crop in Crozet, which is a rather low elevation, suffered significantly. For the past few weeks we’ve been watching with hope as the fruits start to form, only to then drop off the trees.

Because of this, we will have a very short supply of pick-your-own peaches at Chiles Peach Orchard this year, and they will likely be available sometime in July (stay tuned, we will keep you posted). We will, however, have plenty of our own already picked peaches for you (see below), no never fear – you can get your peach fix! We appreciate your understanding, and we will always provide you with the very best that we have.

Peach blossoms after cold snap

Henry Chiles checking peach trees in the spring for live blooms after a cold snap

But, Already-Picked Peaches are Available

Fortunately, we grow peaches on other land in Albemarle County, and some, at higher elevations, were less affected by the freeze. We’re pleased to let you know that we are supplying our farm market with our own peaches this summer, as always. Clingstone peaches are in season now, and we expect our first freestones in mid-July. Nectarines, white peaches, and donut peaches should be available by late June.

Ready-picked peaches in Crozet

NEW! Pick-Your-Own Blueberries

We first planted our blueberry bushes 3 years ago, and we’re happy to report that this year, we do have a small crop! Picking will be available off and on throughout the summer – it varies depending on weather and crowds – feel free to call ahead, or watch our facebook and twitter pages for daily updates.

New! Homegrown Vegetables

New this year—we are growing summer vegetables and flowers! We harvested our first zucchini today, and will have squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, and cut flowers in our market most of the summer. Farm fresh, local, homegrown—and all delicious and beautiful! Check out our selection next time you stop in!

Baby tomatoes - vegetables at Chiles Peach Orchard

Tomatoes, and other vegetables, grown at Chiles Peach Orchard will be available in the Farm Market

Ready-Picked Lodi Apples Available Soon

Our apple crop in Crozet is looking very good so far!

Summer apples—our first Lodi apples will be available (already picked) within the next few days. These are wonderful for frying, cooking, and applesauce. They will be in season for about 2-3 weeks, so if you are a fan, you’ll want to stop in soon!

We anticipate our first pick-your-own apples in mid-August – but stay tuned for updates throughout the summer.

Pumpkins to be Planted This Week

Our pumpkins are being planted this week (so no frost damage as of yet!!). With lots of hard work, luck, and help from Mother Nature, our pumpkin patch will open in mid-September.

Stay tuned to our social media pages for updates throughout the summer!

Behind the Scenes at Chiles Peach Orchard

Springtime Frost Affects Strawberry Plants and Peach Trees

For our peach ice cream, apple cider slushies, and strawberry frozen yogurt, fruit and icy cold are a winning combination. When freezing temperatures threaten the crops before harvest time, however, we’re not so fond of freezing fruit.

To protect our crops from the cold, we have a few warming methods up our sleeves. For peach trees, wind machines are used to circulate air through the orchard and prevent frost from settling on the fruit. Strawberries are protected with overhead sprinklers that water the strawberries, freezing the plants before the frost can touch them. The ice on the plant creates a barrier between the bud and the frost and helps to seal the heat in like an igloo, known as the “igloo effect”. We also protect the strawberry plants by laying canvas covers (check out our video on Facebook) over the strawberry patch—you could call that the “blanket effect”!

Spring may have come early this year but that doesn’t mean Old Man Winter is done with us yet; we will continue to closely monitor the forecast for frost until May.

How the Orchards Prepare for Frost

View the original Albemarle Co. Orchard Preps for Spring Freezes article on NBC29.com

View another clip Fruit Farmers Concerned with Cool Temperatures article on NBC29.com

Strawberries Are Going to Be Early This Year!

Listen to Cynthia Chiles talk with Les Sinclair about strawberry season, expected to begin in mid- to late-April.

Listen to the original podcast posting on wina.com

Apple Picking Has Begun

Stay Local, Play Local at Carter Mountain

Carter Mountain is your summer “staycation” destination!

Pick Your Own Fruit

Come pick your own fruit and enjoy a view that goes on for miles. Our tree-ripened peaches are still in season, and apple picking has just begun! Come pick your own Ginger Gold apples—sweet yet tart, crisp and juicy. Ginger Gold apples make a great fresh snack and also shine in salads, baking, and sauces.

Learn more about our apple varieties and apple availability at Carter Mountain.

Events for the Whole Family

Join us for a Charlottesville summer tradition, the Thursday Evening Sunset Series! Each Thursday night, through September 24, we stay open til 9 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., with hayrides (weather permitting) from 5:30 p.m. til dusk, and live local music from 6 to 8:30 p.m. See who’s playing this week.

We’re also excited to announce our first ever BBQ challenge! The Thrill of the Grill: Mountain Top BBQ Cook Off will be held on Saturday, August 15th.

Get a Taste of the Mountain: Wine & Hard Cider

Prince Michel Winery and Bold Rock Hard Cider each have tasting rooms on Carter Mountain, and are open each day from 10 a.m. til closing for samples and sales. The wines and ciders are made with grapes and apples grown on our farm!

Video clip courtesy of Newsplex

Peaches were Perfectly Ripe for the Annual Peach Festival

What a gorgeous weekend for the annual Ol’ Fashioned Peach Festival!


Video clip courtesy of NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA

A princess in the Royal Peach Court 2015 Kids at the pie eating contest

Peach picking, our Royal Court, and our Pie Eating Contests were the highlights of our weekend. It’s the peak of the season, and thousands came out to enjoy the harvest with us!

For more photos of the fun we had, check out our Facebook page. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for upcoming events on the Mountain!

Ain’t Summer Just Peachy

Today is the opening day for the pick-your-own peaches season at Chiles Peach Orchard, located in beautiful Crozet, VA. The peaches are tree-ripened and ready to be picked, so bring the family for a tasty day of fun in the sun.

With several varieties of peaches ripening at different times throughout the summer, visiting the Orchard once just isn’t enough. Check back throughout the season for your favorite yellow, white, and donut peaches. We anticipate this year’s peach season will go through mid-September. Check our Facebook page for picking updates and start planning your visit!

We’re open this summer Monday to Saturday from 9am until 6pm, and Sundays from 10am until 5pm.

Pick-your-own and ready-picked peaches are also available at our sister farm, Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, VA!

Learn about picking, preserving, and baking with peaches.

Past “In the News”

July 21, 2014
The Staunton NewsLeader features Chiles Peach Orchard.

March 1, 2012
The Crozet Gazette posted a great article on peach tree pruning.

August 17, 2011
USA Today features Chiles Peach Orchard in an article about picking peaches.

August 12, 2008
Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Pie Day.

July 31, 2008
The Virginia Farm Bureau featured Chiles Peach Orchard in an article entitled “Sweet Virginia peaches are ripe for the picking.”

May 25, 2008
Chiles Peach Orchard was the featured business in this Daily Progress article.

May 17, 2008
Strawberry Season In Full Bloom in Crozet. NBC29 article.

September 20, 2005
Daily Progress wrote an article, “A Good Year for Peaches.”

Todd McKinney of Richmond keeps a firm grip on his 2-year-old daughter Madeline as she stands on a ladder to reach for peaches on a tree at Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet

Photo: Mike Tripp/The News Leader