Picking peaches is a somewhat challenging yet very rewarding task. A fresh peach picked straight off the tree tastes much better than almost any peach you can buy in a grocery store. Peaches lose most of their sweetness when they are transported from the field to the grocery store, because this process can take upwards of a month or more, so most of the peaches available in grocery stores are already stale. These steps will show you pick your own peaches to ensure freshness and great taste.
Instructions
1. Carry the proper equipment. You will want to use a picking basket that is the right size. You will not want it to be too large so that it becomes too heavy to carry as you fill it with peaches. If you intend to pick a lot of peaches, it is best to use a smaller pick basket that you dump into a larger bin or box as you fill it.
2. Feel the peach before you pick it. You will want to gently squeeze the peach to check for ripeness. A peach that is ready to be picked will be neither hard nor mushy. Instead, your fingers will just barely sink into the skin as you lightly squeeze.
3. Look at the peach. A ripe peach will have a nice red or peach color, depending on what kind of peach you are picking. For instance, a Dixie Red will typically be a bit smaller with a very red tone. A Centennial will be on the larger side with a very peachy orange color. You will not want to pick a peach that has any green on it.
4. Slowly twist the peach as you pull to pick it. This will reduce the amount of broken twigs on the tree as well as cut down on the number of peaches you knock off the tree as you pick. If you start to twist and the peach does not easily pull off the branch, then it is most likely not ready to pick.
5. Be aware of where you are putting your feet in the peach orchard to ensure you do not step on a snake or a fallen peach.
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