Georgia's Sweet Treat

There are few tastes of summer more symbolic and succulent than the first bite of a juicy peach! Of course, the fuzzy fruit is often associated with the peach state. Pat McConahay recently paid a visit to a Georgia family farm that’s been raising peaches for a hundred years…and discovering new ways to share them with fruit lovers across the country.

Things are in high gear at Lane Packing Company— home to extensive orchards and Georgia’s largest peach packing operation. Duke Lane is a fourth generation family member who’s carrying on the legacy.

"My great grandfather was a pioneer in the peach industry in the early 1900s and he did things highly different than we do things now," Duke says. "He didn’t have the technology, and then my granddad came along and my dad was a teacher that I learned from."

Despite technological advances, one thing that’s pretty much stayed the same is harvesting – one by one. Each peach is picked by hand. "It’s just a delicate fruit. It bruises easy," explains David Lane, Duke’s cousin. He oversees the family’s nearly 3 thousand acre orchard. Out of the 40 commercial varieties of peaches grown in Georgia, Lane Packing produces about 30 that mature at different rates through the May to August harvest season.

David showed us a few varieties. "These are a Caramac, which is a freestone. Freestone means if you cut the peach in half, if it’s ripe it will come away from the seed. "

In spite of its distinction as the Peach State, today Georgia ranks third in U-S production behind California and South Carolina, with more than 15 thousand acres of trees. After the peaches are harvested, it’s onto the packing shed.

At Lane Packing, visitors can watch the entire process. There’s an elevated walkway that extends the entire length of the operation. The free-self guided tours are available throughout the harvesting season.

You’ll see how they’re first cooled from 97 degrees to 36. That stops the ripening process, so when the peaches make it to market they have a longer shelf life. They also have to be washed, graded, sized, and the fuzz has to be removed.

"Back in the old days we would dump them on a dry belt and the peach fuzz will be in the air and make you itch," says David Lane. "In the (new) process of the packing shed it will wash and turn... the brushes on top and bottom washes it off and makes it pretty for the store."

If you happen to be in the area, you can get fruit fresh off the trees when you pay a visit to Lane Packing. This roadside market was built in 1990, along with a gift shop where you can pick up all things peach and a café where you won’t want to pass up the peach ice cream.

"These are the best peaches that I can find," one customer told us. "I’m happy when they’re packing. So when I’m coming through town I always stop here and I have to make sure I get some of that ice cream, too."

In 2005, Lane packing added tram tours of the peach and pecan orchards.

During the 30-minute ride tour guides explain the history of Georgia’s peach industry as well as how the fuzzy fruit is grown and harvested.

Even though Lane Packing is expanding its agricultural tourism or new produce selections, Duke Lane says it still hearkens back to the roots of this beloved fruit. "When you talk Lane, the first thing you think about is a peach and Georgia. When you talk about Georgia and peaches, I think it’s all synonymous."

For more information:
www.lanepacking.com

Fun Facts:
Georgia is known as the " Peach State", but two other crops are more significant to the state’s agriculture. Georgia leads the nation in the production of peanuts and pecans.