New local history posts every Monday.
A trip to the Dunwoody Farmer’s Market this past Saturday solved a problem I was facing. I had not found any tasty peaches nearby yet, including a produce stand, a local produce box service I subscribe to or my local grocery stores. I did find peaches, just not tasty ones. One of the stands at the farmer’s market was Pearson peaches from Fort Valley, Georgia and their peaches were delicious. As a matter of fact, some members of my group enjoyed a peach right then and there.
Since I grew up in Georgia, finding and enjoying Georgia peaches is a tradition in my family which I am happy to continue. When I was young, one of my aunts lived off Highway 155 in Stockbridge, Georgia and had a peach orchard behind their house. My mom, grandmother, aunts, cousins and I would make a day of going to their farm to pick peaches. Following this outing, Mom and my grandmother would freeze peaches so we could continue to enjoy them well after summer.
In the first half of the twentieth century, it was common for farming families near Atlanta to have peach trees. In Dunwoody, the Porter family, whose home was where MJCC is today on Tilly Mill Road, had peach trees. There were peach trees at Spruill farm on Ashford Dunwoody Road. Near the intersection of Spalding Drive and Roberts Drive, the Geffcken family had peach and apple trees on their property.
For several years, I traveled to Musella, Georgia with my mom, children, great aunts and cousins to Dickey’s Farm to purchase peaches. Dickey’s makes it a fun experience with their packing house, shop, and huge porch complete with rocking chairs. Their homemade peach ice cream is worth the trip.
This photo is from the Dickey’s Farm website, gapeaches.com.
When not able to make it to the small towns of Georgia for peaches, I go to DeKalb Farmer’s Market. Once I have driven to DeKalb Farmers Market, I cannot see any reason not to buy a large box of peaches. A small bag of peaches will not do!
To the north of Atlanta, Jaemor’s Farm and Market in Alto is another great place to buy peaches. In McDonough, south of Atlanta along I-75, you can visit and pick peaches at Southern Belle Farm. I’m sure there are more in Georgia and I hope to discover all of them.
I’ve never made a trip to Lane or Pearson peach orchards in Fort Valley, Georgia but when I see their label on peaches at the grocery store or farmer’s market I know they will be delicious.
Each summer, finding and sharing delicious peaches becomes a mission for me. Amazing Georgia peaches are available for a limited time. Sometimes it takes extra planning and effort to make sure you find them, but the reward makes it worthwhile.
Some other farmer’s markets in north DeKalb and nearby include:
Brookhaven Farmer’s Market, Sandy Springs Farmer’s Market, Roswell Farmer’s and Artisans Market at Roswell Presbyterian Church.