ronnie_suburban wrote:Yeah, not only does my experience vary 180 degrees from yours but all I've read on the subject indicates that peaches don't get sweeter after picking. Who knows, maybe there's some variation between varieties?

=R=

My experience mirrors yours - softer, yes, but never sweeter.

https://www.yahoo.com/food/this-couple- ... 69096.html

little500 wrote:https://www.yahoo.com/food/this-couple-quit-their-full-time-jobs-to-sell-124004469096.html

Interesting article. These folks appear to be competitors of the Tree Ripe truck(s) that show up around here.

The Illinois peaches are in and fabulous...

Today's haul

Our peaches from the truck at Morton Grove yesterday may turn out to be delicious but right now they are green-looking and hard. This is a real disappointment since we wanted to stand over the sink and eat three or four each last night.

You can kind of see the greenish color in excelsior's photo above. The color was so striking that I commented on it when the guy opened the box to show them to us as we were buying it. The guy said just leave them on the counter for [disputed number] of days and they will be ripe and sweet. Now, I heard one to three days but Hubby heard three to four days. We will see.

Meanwhile, 51 peaches take up a lot of counter space. I put them in the living room. A nice decorative touch, I think.

Excelsior, your photos are great and the blueberry one is perfect. I just threw most of our blueberries into the freezer.

Here is what Tree-Ripe's literature says about ripening peaches. (I assume that this would work with almost any peach that has not been mishandled):

Peach Care tips: Handle your box of peaches like eggs. Set your box down very gently, peaches can bruise quite easily.

In order to ripen your peaches properly, DO NOT place them in the refrigerator at first. Instead, take them out of the box and spread them out on your counter or table at room temperature until they reach your desired level of ripeness (1-3 days). Keep a watchful eye on them as they ripen.

Look through your peaches and remove any bruised or soft fruit for immediate use, just like you do with bananas, apples, etc. Let the peaches air-dry if they are wet due to condensation after coming out of our refrigerated truck. Peaches are just like bananas when bruised – just cut away the bruised area and enjoy the rest of the fruit!

After Your Peaches Have Ripened
Refrigeration may be used once the peaches are ripe to extend their lifespan, but be cautious with frost-free refrigerators. The dehumidifying effect will remove moisture from the peaches over time and cause them to become mealy so inspect their condition regularly.

Do not store peaches in plastic bags as that will keep moisture on or near the fruit, encouraging mold growth.

Freezing is a great way to preserve the lifespan of your peaches. Peaches are best frozen after they are peeled. Peeling requires a quick dip in boiling water followed be a longer bath in ice-cold water. As the peaches cool the skins will slide off easily. After peeling, put them into a bowl of water with a few tablespoons of lemon juice. This prevents oxygen in the air from turning them brown. Remove the pit. You can choose to have peach halves or quarters.

Peaches freeze best in plastic freezer bags. You can add a tablespoon of sugar per quart to assist with preservation. Peaches can also be frozen in hard-sided containers. Cover peaches with a simple sugar syrup. Let cool completely then place lid on and place into freezer. Remember that freezing will expand the volume of your peaches so leave a little head space for them.

Hi- I would be interested to see what they taste like once they do ripen. I have a hard time believing that they will sweeten up and they are picked as they claim they do. I bought some peaches t the Evanston farmer's market yesterday, and left them out, and most of them are ready to eat. They are not the best peaches I have ever had, but the ones next week should be better. I think with all the cool weather we have had until recently, that peaches are running late. BTW-The market over at the Evanston Y is now held on Tuesdays from 9:00am-1:00pm. Hope this helps, Nancy

Joy wrote:The guy said just leave them on the counter for [disputed number] of days and they will be ripe and sweet.

This is correct. Trust me, I've been getting these for several years now. Your peaches will be great in a few days.

The peaches are also back to their usual large size compared to my batch from last month.

I got these peaches last Saturday at the Menard's on Clybourn in Chicago. The guy told me to just set the box on the counter and let it sit for 2 days, and then the peaches would be ready. They are, and they are delicious! Very juicy and sweet.

I cut up a bunch to freeze on a tray (then put into freezer bags - with the skins on for smoothies and such) and will make a pie this weekend with whatever we have left. We've been eating them just out of hand, and they are terrific.

Mine got ripe incredibly fast! I don't know if it's the warm weather or what...
It's freezing and jamming this weekend for me

cilantro, your reply about the ripening process calmed me down and I waited (im)patiently. You were right. The peaches ripened nicely. They are not as sugary sweet or as juicy as some we have had in past years but boy are they good. Very peachy tasting, if that makes sense. Thanks for the timely comment!

I bought my peaches and blueberries in Spooner, WI on July 6th. Our box had 63 peaches of various sizes. I have had more even sizing in the past. We spread them over the basement table for a few days and then the fun began. We ate out of hand, I made sugar-free peach pie, peach crumb pie, peach upside down cake, peach blueberry gallette peach coffee cake, peach salsa, blueberry slump, blueberry biscuits and blueberry pancakes. The blueberries lasted about eight days and I had one bad berry. After 18 days, I'm down to eight peaches and they're still good, albeit the skin a bit soft and starting to shrivel. They'll be gone by the end of the weekend. Can't say enough about the quality of this produce.

And a recipe for peaches

Sounds good, I plan to make it later this week

Tomato and peach salad, with corn and feta - also has red onion, salt pepper oil and a sprinkle of toasted bread crumbs on top.

http://food52.com/recipes/30475-tomato- ... n-and-feta

Hope everyone is enjoying their peaches, it seems like you are! I work as the salesman for the Chicago area locations for Tree-Ripe Citrus Co. I noticed the discussion here, and just had a couple thoughts on the recent posts. The main reason for the peaches being firm (and have some green coloring) is the need to go through the grading and transportation process. All peaches are picked this way. But our peaches are different because we're able to get them into our customers hands so quickly that they are left on the tree literally until they're ready to soften, usually within a couple days. Sometimes it can take 1 day, sometimes 4 days. It can always be different with different varieties, and variables. Commercial grade fruit is picked extremely green, normally needing 2-3 weeks of storage before making it to the end customer. Peaches at farmers markets tend to be conditioned, or softened ahead of time. We don't like to do this because we want our customers to have time to work with them, and not have to use them immediately. Peaches are a difficult fruit to work with, and we do as much as we possibly can to get everyone the best peaches possible.

Also on The Peach Truck, they are absolutely not competitors. We worked with them as they were getting started, giving them some tips, and are in communication with them regularly. They also work with Pearson Farm, selling the same great peaches. They've done a great job, and have a great brand. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask away. I don't know everything about peaches, but this has been my 22nd peach season

Tiernan - Tree-Ripe Citrus Co.

years ago the peach truck people told us to place the peaches on a towel in a dark room so that none of the peaches were touching and they would ripen in a few days. We've done it every year and it has worked perfectly.

I live in Georgia from whence the peaches come, and the 2-day regimen is bang on. If you do come across some softer peaches, and with a peach aroma, be prepared to eat them the same day.

BTW, peaches at a local grocery were advertised at $.58/lb today.

Just wondering what anyone's comments are regarding the blueberries, if they had some? Re both, would you buy again next season? Also, they had told me that they planned to come here again for the citrus run in the winter, so watch for that schedule if you are interested.

I bought of box of blueberries. Plump and flavorful. Our peaches are still not 100% ready (bought last Saturday). I would buy both again though.

The blueberries were the best ones I've had all year
Should have bought 2 boxes and frozen 1

Will definitely buy again next year.

I return to the first post in this thread and see our first box of peaches. They look very much like those we purchased this year. While there has been some variability in size with the seasons, once we found out how to properly ripen the peaches, there has never been a waver in their outstanding flavor or quality. They remain the second favorite peach in my world (perhaps no peach will top my memory of the California Freestones of my (relative) youth).

THE FOLKS AT TREE-RIPE MAY HAVE A SURPRISE IN STORE

When purchasing our first box of this season we were each handed a white peach . . . 'test marketing' they said.

After spending four days on our countertop we gave each a try in the classic manner - - hand held over the sink. The first bite was sheer ambrosia, perhaps the best WHITE PEACH in my world today. We would love to have several dozen more right now to expand our initial impression.

The Tree-Ripe people at the truck told us that the white peach trees need to grow a few more years before the crop yield is sufficient to market them up here. We wish them 'good luck' with their trees and eagerly await news that the first commercial white peach crop is loaded on trucks and on it's way to Chicagoland.

Has anyone else received a sample white peach with their purchase this year? If so consider writing a response to their test marketing effort. We would love to see these white peaches in our future.

Tree-Ripe's citrus run (Navel oranges, Ruby Red grapefruit, and Minneola tangelos--better known as a Honeybell) is coming to Chicago area December 12, Menards on Clybourn in the morning, and Menards in Morton Grove in the afternoon. There are other Illinois areas throughout December: http://www.tree-ripe.com/calendar/?view ... ember-2015

The citrus was a disappointment, but peaches and blueberries are back! Two dates for Chicago area locations (July 2 and 30); check your location here: http://www.tree-ripe.com/calendar/?view ... =June-2016

No line, no waiting at the peach truck at the Menards on Clybourn, at least at noon when I was there. Very excited for the peaches!

I was there about 12:30 and same experience. Parked right next to the truck, had plenty of time to talk with the guys. As uncrowded as last year - which raises a bit of a concern for me. I used to head up to Gurnee (before they had the Chicago stops) and there were looooong lines, even on swelteringly hot days. I worry that they might not be doing enough volume downtown to warrant continuing to make that stop. So get the word out to anyone that loves delicious juicy peaches - they'll be back on July 30th from 12-1:30.

I got a case this year and they are ripening faster than last year's. A smaller sized peach though, 70 in my case, 66 in my friend's, versus someone's 51 from a post on last year's crop. Can't complain about the flavor though. Blueberries are also in good condition, plump and sweet, which they gave to me as a comp when I mentioned my disappointment with the citrus from the winter run. They seem committed to making Chicagoland a regular stop. They also have a market van that travels to festivals and small venues of that sort (peaches 4 lbs/$10), which they've done for a while, just widening out their area to include Chicago; they said it was a matter of scheduling and manpower that they haven't hit Chicago sooner.

I also had virtually no wait at the Menards in Morton Grove on Sat July 2.
My peaches are nearly ripe as well.
Blueberries are large and sweet.
travelling so much in the next 2 weeks I have feeling a lot of this is going to get frozen...

In just ate my first peach of the year. Yowsa! Another great crop this year. Things are about to get peachy up in here.

Bought Saturday and attaining peach perfection. Chicago lean comes in handy- over the sink w/water running.

My peaches have been delicious out of hand. Took a basket over to a gathering as a host gift.

Already had the blueberries two ways, pancakes and to hand.

Hope to start processing tomorrow.