Palisade peaches are arriving. Here's how to make sure you're buying the real thing.

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·5 min read

Peach stands are popping up on street corners around Fort Collins, meaning the Palisade peach season is upon us.

Or is it?

Especially early in the season, it's time for peach buyers to beware because not all peaches sold at stands are Palisade peaches.

Jeff Pieper, Colorado State University Extension commercial horticulturist in Grand Junction, said many of the major growers are starting to send peaches to the Front Range beginning this week while others will wait a few weeks to harvest.

"The peach season comes in hot and the peaches go out quickly,'' he said. "They are ramping up now and it will be over by Labor Day.''

Here's what you to need to know to make sure you are buying Palisade peaches, how to determine ripeness and how much you can expect to pay for them.

When Palisade peaches hit the market, here's the best time to buy

A cool, wet spring pushed the first harvest back about a week this year, but the first peaches usually begin to hit the Front Range in mid- to late July.

Colorado State University Extension's website says the best time to buy Colorado peaches is August and September.

How do you know if you are buying a Palisade peach and not just any peach

There is no official labeling of Palisade peaches, so this can be tricky. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Buy from known and reputable stands and once you find one stay with it, Pieper said.

  • Vendors say to ask stand workers if the peaches are from Palisade.

  • Look at the peach boxes at the stand to see if they have Palisade written on them. Peach boxes are reused, though, so the boxes might not be an indicator they hold Palisade peaches.

  • Look to see if the peaches have a California (or other state) sticker on them.

Boxes of Palisade peaches sit on a counter at peaches at the Debbie's Palisade Peaches stand at Bath Garden and Nursery, 2000 E. Prospect Road in Fort Collins, on Aug. 23, 2022.
Boxes of Palisade peaches sit on a counter at peaches at the Debbie's Palisade Peaches stand at Bath Garden and Nursery, 2000 E. Prospect Road in Fort Collins, on Aug. 23, 2022.

How do you know when Palisade peaches are ripe

  • Look at the blossom end of the peach. If it's a yellow-green color, the peach is not ripe and you should wait a few days to eat it.

  • When the blossom end is a creamy color or if the peach is slightly flat on the bottom from sitting on the counter, it is ready to eat.

  • Peaches are ripest when they start to get a little soft with a little give to the flesh, but don't squeeze too hard or you could bruise the fruit.

  • A ripe peach is generally also very round and shouldn’t have any green tones left to its color.

How can I make peaches ripen faster?

To ripen peaches, place them separated on the counter away from direct sunlight and resting on their shoulders as opposed to on their bottoms.

How do you make ripe peaches last longer?

You can also slow the ripening process by keeping your peaches in the fridge.

What are Palisade peaches going for this year?

Expect to pay more for Palisade peaches this year because of inflation and freezes in Georgia and South Carolina creating a larger demand for the fruit.

Prices vary but expect to pay about $70 for a full box (roughly 20 pounds) and $40 for a half box. Some stands also offer peaches by the bag at various prices.

Where to find Palisade peaches in Fort Collins

Here is a list of some places from where you can purchase Palisade peaches. This is not a complete list, and when stands open varies around the city and throughout the season:

Stands

  • Colorado Peach Co.: Nathan Meyer said its peaches will be sold in the Thirsty's Liquor parking lot at the corner of Lemay Avenue and Elizabeth Street. He expects peaches to hit the stand the first or second week of August.

  • Peach Haus: Its website indicates it will have stands in Fort Collins at Supermarket Liquors, 1300 E. Mulberry St., and Brothers BBQ, 501 S. Taft Hill Road, and in Loveland at Eisenhower Wine and Spirits, 1710 W. Eisenhower Blvd.

  • Colorado Fresh Farms: 8101 S. Timberline Road, Fort Collins. Visit https://colorado-fresh-farms.myshopify.com/pages/our-farm-stand.

  • FarmStand at Grant Farms: 12155 North Larimer County Road 15, Wellington. Open daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit https://www.facebook.com/GrantFarmsFreshMarket/

  • The Fruit Truck: 11:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 4 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 200 Stover St., Fort Collins. Purchase reservation tickets in advance at allevents.in/fort%20collins/the-fruit-truck/80008068540252.

Farmers markets

Other locations

Talbott's Mountain Gold sells Palisade peaches to grocery chains such as King Soopers, Safeway and Sprouts as well as Royal Crest Dairy, Fresh Point and What Chef's Want, according to the company. Whole Foods also sells Palisade peaches.

Finding Farmers markets: Your 2023 guide to Northern Colorado farmers markets

Fort Collins Peach Festival

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19

Where: Civic Center Park, between Mountain and Laporte avenues and two blocks west of College Avenue

Festivities: Live music, food trucks, beer and alcohol stands and local business vendors

Cost: Free entry. $10 for alcohol wrist bands with proceeds benefitting Rotary Clubs of Fort Collins

Website: fortcollinspeachfestival.com/

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Your guide to buying Palisade peaches in the Fort Collins area in 2023