Are there any spots where you can get good peaches in Atlanta? We're new to the area and picked up some great ones on our move down. Any help would be appreciated!

Rae:

You must travel to Gaffney, (Spartansburg) SC to get amazing peaches fresh from the orchard. So fresh that when you bite into one the juice just flows down your chin. Ever since travelling to Ft. Benning, GA in 1988 to see my brother in basic and stopping at a peach stand and tasting those peaches I can't eat another that is shipped to the grocery store up here in PA.

Well, a friend swears by the peaches in Edgefield, SC

If you haven't been to the big state farmer's market south of town, you need to check it out. I would go there.

I pick mine up at a produce barn in the mountains. I'm not sure if they are GA or SC peaches, but they sure are good!

Here's a listing of the state's farmer's markets.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarke...es/Georgia.htm

The Atlanta State Market is in Forest Park.

There's a very nice one (with a lot of organic food) in Morningside.

Two places that you can get wonderful fresh peaches without going outside the city are 1) The morningside farmer's market (near the Virginia Highlands Area - about 10 minutes from midtown but just I think it is just Saturday mornings and 2) The little farmer's stall outside of Star Provisions/Bacchanalia right in midtown (off 10th street) - the prices at the market are reasonable, the prices at Star Provisions are very high but the produce at both is organic, authentic and delicious!

The farmers' markets will be your best bet. The southern peach season is just about over so hurry.

Lots of other options including organic farmer's markets. If anyone is interested in organic food, check out (or join) www.georgiaorganics.org. There are quite a few organic markets within Atlanta in addition to the M'side Sat. Market. East Atlanta Thurs nite for example. I attended their last conference and am on some of the eletter lists. Great group of folks, too. Incredibly interesting tour of the actual farms during that conference.

Alton Brown will be at Canoe at a Sept. fundraiser.

Well we checked out Dekalb Farmers Market. That was a bust. The produce section was definitely the weakest area of the store. A little more variety than your standard grocery store but everything was rock hard. My next stop is the Morningside market. Thanks for the help!

I don't know the Dekalb Farmers Market but it sounds like a "store". By farmers' market I mean where trucks pull up to stands and put their stuff out. As I also said, southern peaches are about over. They will be coming from out of state now--still good, but not local.

http://www.n-georgia.com/farmers_markets.htm

I saw the Dekalb market site--sort of a Trader Joe's I would guess but NOT a farmers' market.
Look at the government market on the list.

Starrs:

When traveling along the western part of the Southern states I've only seen peach orchards, and huge advertising for the them, around the Spartansburg/Gaffney, SC area. The orchards were right off the Interstate. If there are any orchards in GA they must be the best kept secret in this nation. As soon as we hit GA border area the ads disappeared.

Peach orchards in Georgia are in the Fort Valley area. They are good, but not nearly as good as SC peaches. (I am a Georgian, but I know good peaches!)

The Dekalb market was like a store. I had expected the trucks outside with stands too. The place was enormous. I didn't explore the entire store but they had a huge seafood department that if I was purchasing fish I'd go back to.

NO doubt about it--SC peaches are the best.

Gregg's Orchard southwest of Atlanta in Pike County has been having great peaches. (I picked up some on Wednesday) Not sure how much longer they will last. Pick your own or buy already picked. Good peach ice cream too. I think they have a website--east of Ga Hwy 85/south of Ga Hwy 16.

Try the Atlanta's farmers market, near the airport. My husband is in the food industry and has to go down there for a customer a lot and I usually tag along and pick up the produce. The last few rows (away from the highway) are the local Georgia farmers. There is a guy always selling blueberries (when they are in season) and I have never had a sweeter nectarine than the white skinned ones there.

Edgefield, SC peaches are the best! Fresh of the tree. Edgefield is 30 minutes north west of Augusta, GA. It is worth the drive. I'm heading there tomorrow.

There are orchards in the Fort Valley area of Georgia. Visit Lane Packing Co. in Fort Valley. Also, here's a link for the Georgia peach festival. http://www.gapeachfestival.com/

I would be amazed if you found local peaches in the South now. Let us know.

Gretchen you are right. My favorite stand in Edgefield said that they quit selling them last week. I just wish I had properly savored my last peach of the season.