By Vanessa Infanzon
Donna Livingston with Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce reminisces about the homemade peach cobbler from her childhood. Her mom and grandmothers baked the fruity dish for dessert on Sundays, a simple recipe with flour, sugar and milk. “I’ve lived here my whole life,” she says. “Peaches have always been part of my life. My homeplace was surrounded by peaches.”
Create your own family memories with Edgefield County’s peaches. Here are 5 ways to enjoy this year’s sweet goodness from “The Tastier Peach State”:
Head to the Johnston Peach Blossom Festival on May 7.
The annual celebration is held in Johnston, the Peach Capital of the World. The festival features a parade, arts and crafts, food vendors, live music and children’s rides and games. Johnstondevelopmentcorp.org
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
Ridge Peach Festival on June 18 in Trenton.
Watch the morning parade and then browse through booths with arts and crafts, antiques, fresh peaches, peach ice cream, desserts and preserves. facebook.com/ridgepeachfestival
Shop at a farmer’s market.
Just-picked peaches, berries, vegetables and other goodies are waiting for you. Start with Jackie’s Market and Cook’s Roadside Market. Stop at Titan Farm’s roadside stand, Sara’s Fresh Market in Trenton, for homemade peach ice cream. Order a Titan Farms’ Carolina Beauty Peach Giftbox – 13 gorgeous peaches – for a friend or family member. visitold96sc.com/feelin-peachy-markets-and-stands
Sip Tiger Creek Peach Wine at
Three Star Vineyard and Orchard.
Order a sweet, dry or wine slushy flight or purchase wine by the glass at this Johnston vineyard. Listen to live music from 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays, March through October. Come for Food Truck Friday Night and live music on the last Friday of the month. Facebook: Three Star Vineyard and Orchard of Johnston, LLC
Tour Carolina Moon Distillery in downtown Edgefield.
Find out how the distillery makes its moonshine with a free tour and tasting, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. The peach-flavored moonshine, rum and whiskey are made with peaches from J.W. Yonce & Sons, Inc. Big Smile Peaches in Johnston. georgialinadistilling.com/carolinamoondistillery
Just How Peachy Are You?
Test your knowledge of peaches. Play this trivia game on your way to some fruity fun:
- Which state produces the most peaches in the U.S., after California?
- What percentage of peaches grown in S.C. are grown in the Old 96 District?
- How long does a peach tree live, on average?
- When was the first peach cultivated in China, its native country?
- What foods are closely related to peaches?
Answers are at the bottom of the page.
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Vanessa Infanzon is a freelance writer in Charlotte, North Carolina, whose wide-ranging work has been featured in regional and national media outlets. Vanessa moved South for college and never left. When she’s not writing about day excursions or entrepreneurs, she’s paddleboarding on a river.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @morethanVMI.
ANSWERS:
- South Carolina
- 60%
- 12 Years
- 901-1000 B.C
- Almonds, Cherries, and Plums
