The "Taking Up The Slack After Strawberry Season" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an email with a title of "Eat Peaches".  And, I agree wholeheartedly.  Spring brings strawberry season and my favorite strawberry shortcake.  Strawberries are also great on ice cream, on pudding, on cereal, in a pie, in strudel, with cream or just after picking.  But, strawberry season only lasts about a month, if the weather cooperates.  Then, if you want strawberries you need to buy imported ones which are white in the middle and have very little flavor to them.  About a month after strawberry season ends, my second favorite season begins, peach season.  The peach tree is a member of the rose family and is related to both the apricot and the almond.  There are actually hundreds of varieties with most being either yellow fleshed or white fleshed.  And, the peach with a smooth skin is what we call a nectarine.  

These peaches sell for $1.99 a pound.

Peaches were native to China and were taken along the Silk Route to Persia and later spread to North and West Europe by the Romans. It is now grown in most countries with temperate climates.  Peaches are rich in vitamin C as well as a good source of potassium and fiber.  They also contain beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A after eating.  A truly good peach is one that is allowed to ripen on the tree for as long as possible.  Peaches get softer and juicier after picking, but only develop flavor and sweetness on the tree.  

I purchase a basket at a time for $4.95 at a local
supermarket known as Stauffer's of Kissel Hill.

When I head to the store for peaches I always feel the firmness of the fruit.  If it is hard as a rock I avoid it since I know it wouldn't be sweet if I take it home.  I have one store in my home town of Lancaster, PA that I know has the best peaches on a daily basis once the season begins and that's my go-to store for the fruit.  I have read that it's best to blanch peaches in boiling water for about 15 seconds to get the skin off easiest, but I prefer to use a knife to peel the skin.  At times I consume the entire fruit.  Also read that it's best to store peaches on their shoulders without touching when you bring them home.  If the peaches need to ripen and you need them in a hurry, place them in a paper bag and add a banana, apple or pear, since these fruits give off ethylene which will help the peaches to ripen more quickly.  Many people freeze peaches, but I enjoy them more when fresh so  I choose not to freeze them.  I'm sure many people have a favorite fruit and that fruit may depend upon where they live in the world.  So, while the season's allow, I eat as many strawberries and peaches as possible.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.