2023 Peach guide

Watt FarMS Country Market

​​*flesh does not discolor when exposed to air.

The Difference between Freestone and Clingstone Peaches:

 Peaches are categorized by the relationship between the fruit's flesh and pit or stone. The difference between freestone peaches and clingstone peaches is how much the fruit's flesh “clings” to the pit. Freestone peaches have fruit that easily pulls away from the pit, while clingstone peach flesh stubbornly clings to the pit.  There are many delicious varieties of both cling and freestone peaches; clingstone varieties being the first to possibly ripen at Watt Farms, here in WNY, for good reason.  It simply takes more growing and maturing time for the “freestone” pit to harden within the peach before it is picked.  The same is true for early plums and nectarines compared with later ripening plums and nectarines!

More about Freestone Peaches

Freestone peaches are a joy because the pit easily comes “free”. In fact, when cut in half, the pit will often fall right out of a freestone peach. We grow many varieties of freestone peaches and once we start picking freestone peaches, they are available for over a month here at Watt Farms. Because freestone peaches are easier to work with, most people prefer them.

It may interest you to know that hundreds of acres of the Baby Gold “clingstone” peach were commercially grown in WNY for decades and used by Gerber for baby food.  They are a fantastic bright orange and very flavorful peach, but when Gerber withdrew from WNY, most baby gold peach trees were pushed out.  That delicious bright orange peach-type is still grown commercially worldwide and most canned peaches and all baby food peaches are of a cling stone peach!

U-Pick varieties are shown in green.

Closed for the Season